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A 



r 



OF THE 

TRIAL 



OF 



ANDREW WRIGHT, 

PRINTER OF THE " REPUBLICAN SPY," 

ON AN INDICTJyIENT FOU LIBELS AGAINST 

GOVERNOR STRONG, 
Before the Hon. Tkeophilus Parsons, 

Chief Juftice of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Common. 
wealth of Maffachufetts, 

AT NORTHAMPTON, SEPT. TERM 1806, 



«> 



NORTHAMPTON, 

PUBLISHED BY ANDREW WRIGHT 

1806. 






I' HE tejlimony of the witnejes to the faB afpubli- 
cattcn, is not fo particularly detailed^ as that of the 
witneffes to the more important points, 

^he arguments of counfel and the charge of the pre- 
fiding Judge, not having been taken doijon, at the time 
of the trials are neceffarily omitted. 



0'^ 



COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, 

VS. 

ANDREW WRIGHT, 

OM THE FOLLOWING INDICTMENT. 



^^ Qommonwealtb of Majfachufetts, 

Hampshire ss. At the Supreme Judicial Court begun and 
J) Iden at Northampton within and for the County of 
Harapfhire on the third Tuefday of September in the year 

:i of our Lord one ihoufand eight hundred and five, and 
thence adjourned to and now holdcn at Northampton within 
and for faid County of Hampfhire on the firll Tuefday of 
December in the year of our Lord one thoufand eight hun- 
dred and five. 

THE Jurors for the Commonwealth of MafTa- 
chufetts do on tlieir oath prefent that [Andrew* 
Wright of Northampton in faid county of Hamp- 
fnlre Printer being a malicious and feditious man 
■and of a mofl depraved, evil and wicked mind and 
moft malicious difpofition and alfo deceitfully, 
wickedly and malicioufly contriving and abetting 
againfl: his Excellency Caleb Strong E(q. Govern- 
or and commander in chief of the Common- 
wealth of Mafliichufctts to detrad", fcandaiize and 
vilify, and to reprefent the faid Caleb Strong Efq. 
as an unjuft opprefTive and bafe perfon and little 
fit to be employed and entrulled in the public af- 
fairs of the faid Commonwealth and alio to brine,' 
the faid Caleb Strong as much as in the faid Air- 
crew Wright lay into great hatred contempt and 



difgrace with all tLe citizens of the faid common- 
wealth and to vilify the good name, fame credit 
and reputation of the faid Caleb Strong, did on 
the eleventh day of June laft pafl at Northampton 
aforefaid wickedly and maliciouiiy print and pub- 
lijh and eaufe and procure to be printed ^iVid pub- 
liflied a certain fcandalous and feditious libel in a 
certain newfpaper then and there printed and 
publifhed by him the faid Andrew Wright and 
entitled '* Republican Spy" in which faid iibsl of 
and concerning the faid Caleb Stron;;^ Efq. who 
then was and ever fmcc hath been and ftill is Gov- 
ernor and commander in chief of the common- 
wcalth aforefaid and contained among other things 
divers fcurrilous feigned falfe fcandalous malicious 
and feditious matters according to the tenor foiiow- 
ing] to wit "Profecution" ^' Perfecution appears 
" to be the order of the d^^y with the Fedei'ahtis, 
" Having left their power over the general govern- 
** mcnt and with it their ability to do mifchief upon 
** a large fcale they retire into a /?;m// circle and vent 
• ' their malignity agiinil: republicanifm in fcderrd 
'* diftiicts. Their fcndnefs for every tbjng Englifii 
*' leads them to take advantage of the law of Eng- 
" land* adapted by us which does not allow the 
" truth to be given in evidence to proiecute zvz^y- 
*' one who ailerts what he knows to be truth. 

*' If a printer tells Governor Strong(meaning the 
'' faid CVicb vStrong Efq. that he" fac;aia meaning 
the laid Crtkh Strong) " fpeculated why he prof- 
'' ecute.; ii : ;■' thereby meaning and intending and 
falfi:ly ar.cl malicloudy infmuaiing that the faid 
Caleb Strong Efq. had fpeculated iu pudlic fecu- 
rities in Gdifimiejtcna unrighteous manner aj^d that 
the fame' had before that time been publiflied by a 
printer and that the faid Cal-b Strong had unjuitly 



procured or caufcd the faid printer to be profc- 
cuted therefor. 

And the Jurors aforefaid on their oath aforefaid 
do further prefent that he the faid Andrew Wright 
in and by the fame libel aforefaid by him framed 
printed and publiilied and caufed to be framed 
printed and publiilied as aforefaid did falfely ma- 
licioudy and wickedly frame, print and publifh 
and caufed to be Jrajned printed and fuhlified of 
and concerning the iaid Caleb Strong Efq. other 
falfe fcandalous and libellous words of the fol- 
lowing tenor to wit '* Thank Heaven, vve can 
*MVill think we can think that his Excellency 
(therereby meaning the faid Caleb Strong Efq.) 
*' did fpeculate ; we cm think that all the Grand 
*' Jury knew it" thereby meaning and intending 
and falfely and malicioufly iniinuating that the 
faid Caleb Strong Efq. had fpeculated in public 
fecurities in a difhoneil and unrighteous manner 
and that the fame was publicly known to the 
Grand Juiy of faid county. 

And the Jurors aforefaid on their oath afore- 
faid do furthei" prefent that the ixxA Andrew 
Wright continuing to be a malicious and feditious 
perfon and of a depraved and wicked mind and 
deceitfully and maliciouiiy intending to fcandalize 
and vilify his faid Excellency Caleb Strong Efq. 
and to reprefent the faid Caleb Strong Efq. as an 
unjuft oppreiTive and bafe perfon and unfit to 
be eatrufled with the public affairs of faid com- 
monwealth and contriving minding and intending 
(as far as in him the faid Andrew Wright lay) 
to bring the faid Caleb Strong into great fcandal 
and difgracc with all the citizens of the faid com*- 
nionwealth and as much as in him the faid An- 
drew Wright lay, to fabvert and deftroy the con- 
iidenceof the citizens of the faid commonwealth 



5 

in him the fald Caleb Strong Efq. as Governor 
end coi.iimantler in chief of the fame common- 
wealth on the eighteenth day of June now lall 
pafl: at Northampton aforejaid in the county 
aforefaid with force and arms did malicioufly and 
wickedly /)r/,'z/ and /^/^///^ and caujed and procured 
to be printed and pubhO^jed a cei tain other falfe 
fcandalous and ft-ditious libel in a certain newfpa- 
per called '' Ilepubiican Spy" then and there 
printed and publifhed by him the faid Andrew 
Wright in which libel of and concerning the faid 
Caleb Strong Efq. who then was and fliil is Gov- 
ernor and commander in chief of the faid com- 
monwealth and contained among other things di- 
vers fcurrilaus feigned icandaloiis falfe fediticus 
?:\\^ m^vlicious matters accoi'ding to the tenor fol- 
lowing to wit. *' It was a maxim with the fa- 
'* mous fwindler Jon?4ihan Wild that " a good 
'' name like money muit be parted with or at 
^' lead ^/v.7//)' rifiedlo bring the owner any ad- 
'' vantage j Governor Strong (meaning his faid cx- 
^^cellency Caleb Strong Efquire) in attempting to 
"* procure the clerks office for his fon fcems to 
'' have adopted this maxim of thefwinBler for it 
'■' mnil: be allowed tliat he has greatly *' risked" U not 
•'* 'wboLy ficrificed his reputation by that iingle 
'* tranla^cion. There is a dignity of charafter 
' which the chief magidrate of a large and ref- 
' pttlable commonwealth is bound to preferve. 
" Klevated above the reft oi' his fellow citizen^} 
''his whole foul fliould be devoted to a promo- 
'^ tion oftheir interefts. Every idea of felf inter- 
'' ell ihould be banilhed from his mind. Projeiis 
'' of family aggrandizement, fo far from being 
'- cheriflied ihould not engrofs a fingle refledion. 
"■ What tb.cn can be laid in extenuation of the con- 
du>ft of Governor Strong (meaning the faid Ca- 



leb .Strong Efq. then Governor of ihc common- 
wealth aforefaid) with a meannefs unparalleled this 
" man forgetful of his high ftation did condcf- 
" cend to folicit the Judges of the fupreme court 
*' (meaning the. Judges of the fupreme judicial 
" court of faid commonwealth) to appoint hrs 
fon to the clerkfliip of this county (meaning the 
Ton of the faid Caleb Strong Efq. to the office of 
clerk to the fupreme judicial eourt and court of 
common pleas for laid county of Hampdiirc) 
thereby in and by the whole of the above recited 
paragraphs of the libel laft aforcfaid maliciouflj 
and falfely reprefenting and infmuating that the 
faid Caleb 6'trong had taken diJhonorabJe undue and 
difgracejul means to obtain the office of clerk of 
the fame courts aforefaid for the fon of the faid 
Caleb .Strong and thereby degraded his high and 
important office aforefaid. 

And the Jurors aforefaid on their oath afore- 
faid do further prefent that he the fiid Andrew 
Wright in and by the fame libel aforefaid by him 
framed printed and publiflied as laft aforefaid did 
further falfely wickedly and malicioullyy;-^;w^^r/»^ 
andpublijh and cauje to be framed printed and pub- 
liflied of and concerning the faid Caleb Strong 
Efq. other libellous falfe and fcandalous words of 
thefollowing tenor to wit" Had Governor .Strong- 
(meaning the faid Caleb *S'trong Efq.) pofleflcd 
** the feelings of a Gentleman^ he (meaning the 
faid Caleb 5'trong Efq.) never would have alked a 
" favor of the Judges (meaning the Judges of the 
fupreme judicial couit of faid common wealth*? 
" there was a degree of delicacy which as an indi-- 
" vidual he (meaning the faid Caleb Strong Efq.) 
" ought to have obferved towards them (meanin-j- 
the laid judges of the faid fupreme judicial court^ 
" The fupreme court (meaning the juflices of the 



faid fupreme judicial court of faid commonwealth 
■*' were under perfonal obligations to him (mean- 
ing the laid Caleb Strong) He had appointed eve- 
*' ry member of that court except one, as a Gentle- 
" man therefore it was highly improper in him 
(meaning the faid Caleb) to afk a favor of them 
(meaning the faid judges of faid fupreme judicial 
court) " When vv^e refledl: that Mr. Strong (mean- 
ing the faid Caleb Strong Efq.) was the executive 
*' of the commonwealth (meaning the common- 
wealih of Maffachufetts) that he difcharged (after 
a fafliion) the duties of an independent branch of 
the Government (meaning the faid commonwealth) 
that under thefe circumffiances he (meaning the 
faid Caleb 6'trong) *' did folicit the court" (mean- 
ing the laid fupreme judicial court another inde- 
pendent branch of Government) " to beftow an* 
*' office on his own fon we are compelled to ac- 
*' knowledge he thereby proftituted his own dig- 
*' nity and offered an outrageous infult to that 
*' honourable body (meaning the faid fupreme 
''judicial court) thereby meaning and falfely in- 
finuating that he the faid Caleb ^Strong in order 
to obtain an office of clerk in said court for his 
son hadproftituted the dignity of his office afore- 
said and behaved and condudlcd in an improper 
and disrespectful manner to the judges of the 
supreme judicial court aforesaid. 

And the Jurors aforesaid on their oath afore- 
said do further present that the said Andrew 
Wright in the gazette and libel lad aforesaid did 
then and there falsely and middowsXy fra?ne print 
and piibliJJ^ cf ^77^ concerning the said Caleb Strong 
Esquire other false defamatory and scandalous 
words of the following tenor to wit ** The court 
" (meaning the said supreme judicial court) made 
" a noble ji and againji the low arts of Exenttiije in- 



9 

** trigue. They (meaning the juftiecs of the faid 
" Aipremc judicial court) refult'd to appoint the 
*' £on and by a refulal preferved the integrity of 
" the Bench" (thereby meaning and falfely and 
malicioufly infinuating that the (aid Caleb Strong 
Efq. low bafe and unjuftifiable arts and intrigues 
in order to induce and influence the juflices of the 
faid iupreme judicial court to appoint his faid foii 
to the office of clerk of the fame court. 

And the Jurors &c. do further prefent that he 
the fiid Andrew Wright minding and intending 
contriving and abetting him the faid Caleb Strong 
Efq. Governor and commander in chief of the 
commonwealth aforefaid to abufe calumniate and 
flander and as much as in him lay to fubvert and 
deflroy his influence in the faid commonwealth 
and to bring him into difgraceand reproach upon 
the twenty-leventh day of Augufl now laft pall 
at Northampton aforefaid in the county aforefaid 
did frame print and publijh and caufed to be printed 
and publijhed a certain gazette called " Republican 
Spy" and in the fime gazette with force and arms 
did falfely and malicioufly print and publifh and 
caufe to be printed and pubiiCned of and concern- 
ing the (aid Caleb Strong Efquire certain libellous 
falfc and fcandalous words of the tenor following, 
lo wit " A leceut occurrence in the county of 
" Worceder will convuice every refleflino- mind 
'* of the neceflity of an immediate reform. T\-\^ 
** intrigues of a Junto of Federal leaders who had 
** combined to procure the appointment of an un- 
♦* deferving candidate to the office of Sheriff, have 
** thrown the whole county into an uproar. Coun- 
" fellers Judges and clerks, brothers uncles and 
*• coufms cap in hand all danced attendance around 
** Caleb Strong" (meaning the fiid Caleb Strong 
Efq. Governor of the faid commonwealth) '' tu 

' 2 



10 



'' procure the appointment for a man of the name 
" of Ward. The fcene was movmg it quite over- 
'^ came the tender nerves of Mr. Strong (meaning 
" the faid Caleb Strong Eiquire). The man wlio 
*' could mufter the greateft knot of uncles and 
*' coufms of counfellors and judges in (hort the 
*' mofl: powerful family conne6lions prevailed, 
*' This was what might have been expeded for 
•' Mr. Strong (meaning the faid Caleb Strong Ef- 
*' quire) as we before faid has weak nerves. The 
'' ifttcrefis of the county (meaning the faid county 
*' of Worcefter) were projlratcd the righfi of the 
" people ivcre fpurned at. Ward got the appoint- 
" ment. The ariftocrats were gratified (for the 
'^ Governor (meaning the iaid Culeb Strong Ef- 
'' quire) dare ufuic tHcm nothing. The people 
** may " go whiftlc" about their rights and get 
" redrefs as they can. Vv'hy is the dignity of the 
" llatc government profiituted to promote the 
'' views of a let cf intriguers ? How does it hap- 
" pen that the Governor (meaning the laid Caleb 
" Strong Efq.) is at one time the humble folicitor 
•^ oi an oftice at the fcotflool of the court and at 
" another a miferable tool in the hands of his own 
'♦ pariizans ? Why has he at one time tiampled 
" upon the independence of the ccuri and forgot- 
" ten the interefts of a county, to prom.otc the in- 
*' tercils of h;s own family, and at another lif- 
'' tencd to the lolicitatioas or ihrtats of a Junto, 
" rather than. to the voice ol the people .? Avarice 
''■ inci'cd Iiim (meanmg the faid Caleb Strong Efq.) 
'- jn the one cafe and timidity prevented rcfilfance 
"^ in tlie oihcr. Three thouland dollars added to 
^' the income of his family, it mull be conftllcd 
•■'• was a povvertul bait to a man of Mr. Strong's 
'■ (meanir.g ihc laid Calt'bStiong Elquire's) diftn- 
^■^ lercit-ul bcni:voknce (meaning ironically) the 



I 



II 



^'; denunciations of powerful feckralifls were too 
" terrible to be encountered by a man of Iiis ire- 
" mendcus courage. If we would prevent a recur - 
'^ rcnce to thefe difgraceful fcenes a blow muft be 
' •* firuck at the root of the evil" by all which the 
faid Andrew in thelibcllou5| and fcandalous words 
aforefaid falfely and malicioufly exprcficd and in- 
fniuated of and concerning the faid Caleb Strong 
Efq. that he had conduced himfelf improperly in 
the nomination of and appointing a fherifF for the 
county of Worctftcr, that he had acled with weak- 
nefs and with want of judgment prudence and 
difcreticn in the fame nomination and^appoint- 
ment and had been influenced thereto by wrong 
motives by an undue influence and by irregular 
and corrupt perfuafions and had by the fame no- 
mination and appointment bafely and wicktdly 
m his faid office of Governor of this common- 
wealth proflrated the interefls and fpurned at the 
rights of the people of the faid county of Wor- 
ceJder. 

All of which fcandalous words aforefaid in the 
feveral libels aforefaid have been falfely and mali- 
cioufly printed and publiflied by him the faid An- 
drew Wright of and concerning the faid Calel? 
Strong Efquire as well to injure and defame him 
in his high and important office aforefaid as in his 
perfonal and private character in evil example to 
others and againfl: the peace of the faid common* 
wealth and the dignity of the fame. 

A true Bill. 

THO'S A. GATES, Forfman'. 

John Hooker, Att'y pro 
Rfp. pro hac vice. 

A Copy-^Atttst, 

Jos. LvivrAX, CUrl. 



12 

Hon, George Bllfi, who in the ab fence of the 
Attorney General, had drav;n this IiKliftiTicnt, and 
was sfligncd by the court to c^Rducl the profecu- 
tion, moved, en Friday Sept. 19th to brin.^ on the 
trial. 

Francis Blake, Efq, onccf the defendant's coun- 
fe], moved, in his behalf, for a continuance of th<s 
caufe to the next term, for the parf.'oie of procur- 
ing additional evidence, particularly aji original 
letter from Gov. Stroj?g to Jnd^e Sedgwicky fbhcit- 
ing the appoint r/ient of ^Iheodore Strong j the Governor s 
J012, to the ojfice cf clerk of this court y and alk) evi- 
dence of the intereit made with Gov. Stronp- for 
tnc appointment ot Thomas W. Ward, Efq. to the 
oihct of meriff of the County of Worceiler, the 
oppofition to that appointment, ami tlie general 
dijcontefit txchcd by a ■i\r:.c,T'i^ th:^ people or that 
County. 

^The Chief J'ajh'cCy \v3.s cf opiirion that, as the 
defendant had been arraigned at. the laft term, it 
was his own fault, if he was nst now prepared 
wirh his evidence :. and accordingly overruled the 
moiion for a continuance. 

Mr. Blifs proceeded to open the cafe, on the 
part of the profecution, and concluded by declar- 
ing that he fhould not objetl againlt the defend- 
ant's givir?g the truth in evidence tothe jury, aitho' 
it fnould not be^a jujlificaticny if pubhflied mali- 
cioufiy. To prove tlie pabhcatioo, he produced 
the foHov/ing wiinsiTes : 

^^faph Clark, who did not know of the pubii- 
cation of ihele j)articu]ar papers, and liad not 
heard the defendant acknowledge them. 

Jfa Lf^rnedy who did not kriow it, as he did 
nor then ]ive with defendant, bm had left North- 
ampton April 1805. 



^3 

Daniel Wright, Efq. who underftood the Defend- 
ant to be the editor of the newfpaper, entitled " Re- 
publican Spy," but did not know of his publifh- 
ing thefe very papers. He recoUeded defend- 
ent's addrefs to the public, upon commencing the 
editorfliip, which was before the dates of the pa- 
pers produced. 

Charles Shepherd, who knew, generally that de- 
fendant was the publilher of *' Repubhcan Spy," 
at' the time when the papers in quefbion purpor- 
ted to have been publifhed, but had no knowledge 
of his publiOiing thefe identical papers. 

Elijjja Mather, who teftified that he was a fub- 
icriber for the *' Republican Spy," and had kept a 
file of thera. They were brought to him by a 
boy or boys fuppokd by him to be in defendant's 
employment. He had paid defendant in part for 
the papers, but had not fettled. 

William Butler^ teftified that laft evening he 
was fhewn a file of the " Republican Spy," by 
Elifha Mather, from which he had taken two 
numbers, which he produced in court. They 
were dated June i iht and June ibth 

Elijha Matlxr^ re-examined, faid that the two 
papers, which Mr. Butler received from him, were 
a part of the file of papers, brought to him by de- 
fendant's boys. When crofs-examined, he faid he 
did not know that all his numbers of the '* Repub- 
lean Spy" or thefe two in particular , were aSlually 
brought to his houje by any perjon in dejendant's em* 
ploymenty aitho' he fuppofed they were. In anfwer 
to a queftion from the Chief Juftice, he faid he had 
received no others of thole dates. 

Dr. Hervey Frinky produced a*'" Republican 
Spy," dated Auguft 27th, from his files, which 
were brought by the defendant's carrier. Upon 
his crofs-examination, he faid the papers were 



fometimes left in his abfence, or thrown into the 
door, or lodged upon the knocker. He fuppofed 
they ivere thus left by the defendanfs carrier, but he 
did not ablol'Jtely know it. 

The newfpaper publications, charged as libels, 
were then read to the Jury, as follows. 

PPvOSECUTIO?:. 

PsRSECUTioN appears to be the order of the day -with the Federalists. Having loft 
flieir power over the Genrral Government and v/ith it their ability to do milchiei 
upon a large f^ale, they retire into a Imalier circ'e and vent their malignity af^ainft re- 
publicaniim iii federal diftrifls Their fondncis for ever^' thing Ar^/r/^,' leads them 
to t;.ke advantage of the i»v; of England, adopted by ns; which docs not allow the 
TRUTH to be given in evidence ; to proiecutc every one who afferts, what he kvcws to 
he TRUTH. If a printer fells Govervar Utrnvg that he speculated, why he proiecutei 
him. If Naltan tei!s David, that he was intimate " with Uriah's" wife, he threatens 
to PROSECUTE him \ If one Ihould happen t fiprofe., in ma:ii,er " DircCf, ox obliaue," 
that Lr-MUEL had takeii mercury ; if the iaid Le nu I h ippens to be a tederalift, he inufl 
fign a Certiji.afe, that he believes T'rrcury is taken for more tinn one (Uforder, or be 
profecuted ! ! heaven prcrer\-e us ! However; thank. Heaven, we can ftill thikk ! we 
can thirik that His Excellency dii [peculate; we Ciin think that all the Grand jury 
know it. We can think likewife, that they have vsry Jliort i^iemorica ; or Jorg$t their 
rntki. wlien a file of the Hampshire Gazette, was prcfented to tlicm for examination. 
■^A'e can t'^'ink moreover that Squne Hmckhy is a Jonl, to fiiew bimfelf fo officious on 
Ms brother-in-law's account, and that every Printer that he pri-fscutea, will cofl the 
Governor more than too votes,— -God knows he cannot att'ord to Joie a <;rent many t 
— Suppole R'.p-.iblicans flionld prolecute s!! the Federalifls who calumniate them ? 
and (uppofe pachci Juri-s fnoiiKi fine ?nd imprifon them as feverely, and as -ijeitrat 
fine did Adams ? All the prifons in the United States would be iniufficient to contain 
them ; — nor would all the spkcie, in the Noithampton Bank, pay their fines! 

IT was a msxim with tlie f.mons fwindlcr Jonathan Wild, that " a gnei name like 
" money muft be farted wi'f', or at Icaft greatly rijked, to bring the owner any advan- 
" ta.ge." Governor Strong, in attempting to procure the Clerk's office for his fon, 
feems to have adopted this maxim of the Uvindler; for it m'lfi: be allowed, that he has 
grcitly " riiked," if not wholly facrificed his reputation by that fjngle tranfaftion. 

There is a dignity of character which the chief magil(r?te of t large jind refpeftable 
commonwoakh is bound to preferve. Elevated above the reft of his fellow citizens, 
his xvhole fi^il fhould be devoted to a prom'^tion of their interefts. Every idea of 
JelJ interejl fhould be haniflied from his mind. ?To]of\.% of family aggrandiftmenr, 
fo far from Wins; cherifhed, Aii^uld notengrf»ls a fingle reReftion. What then can be 
faid in ext.-n'iation of thccondufl of Governor Strong ? With a meannefs unparalleled, 
this Tvav, forgetful of his high ftation, did condefrend to folicit the Judges of the Siu 
preme Court to appoint his Ion to the Clerkfhip of this Cnunty ! !* 

Had Governor Strong pofRfTed \\x feelings of a genllef*tJi, lie never would have 
sflce'd ^ favor of the Judges. There was a degree of delicacy which as »n individual, 
Aif 'ought to have obferved towards them. The Supreme Court were under perfunal 
ehligations to kim : he had appointed every member cf that Court except one ; as a gtn- 
tlem?n, therefore, it was highly iirprnper in him to afk a favor of them. When we 
Tcfleft th,it ^Ir. Strong was the f.v'cutivc of the Commonwealth, that he difcharged 
fifter a fafliion) the diities of an independent travch of the govenunent ; that under thefe 
cirtumftance'i^f did folicit the Court (another independent branch of government) ta 
leflow an office on his own fon, we arecompel'ed to acknowledge he thereby profti- 
tnted his own dignity; and offered nn outrageous infult to that honourable body. 
Every carrefl; man muft fee that fuch conduft admits of no palliation. But there are 



* It 
'I'r ea 



will he rememherei that the GoTernor's fun, en the trial ef Maj. Taylor, teflified 
It'), that the Governor wrote a letter tn the Court fol'citivg the Clerkfhip for km. 



^5 

ftill circumftances attending this affair that render his condufl ftill more reprehenfible. 
This fon of the Governor, (for whom the careful Jalkcr, by the weight of his injlucnctf 
was fi> procure an office worth 3000 dollars per annum), b«lidcs being very young, 
was a fellow of mian and contemptible talents, and of a mofl profligate and infamous 
charader. With thefe dead weights, hanging like the rock of SyfTiphus upon tW /tin's 
fliouiders, the cunning father very well knew that fu,h an one, although he might b« 
the fon of the Governor, was not calculated to gain the con&dencc ofthe Cuurt, or to uing 
a very fublme fl'.iht in the orbit o[ pnfrjii'jtal eminence. 

It was hinted to the Court, that the youn^ man was about to be raarrieil, and unlefs 
(lack a day!) he could obtain the office, he would be difappoinlcd in the natch!! Thii 
young (prig however, notwitnftanding the powerful lolicitations in hit behalf, was 
dilappuinted alike in his matrimonial and money-making Ichemes. 

The Court marie a noble /laud againfl the ion) arts of executive intrigue. They rc- 
fufed to appoint the fon, and by a rcfufal preler\ed the integrity of the Bench. 

A RF-CENT orcurrence in the County of WorceHer will convince every reflefting 
mind i'{ the neceiTity of an immediate rer)rm. Th« intrigues of a junto of federal 
leaders, who had combined to procure the appointinent of an undefcrving candidate 
to the office of Sheriff, have thrown the whole county into an uproar. Counf;llors, 
jud(.'es and Cieiks, Brothers, Uncles and Coufms, cap in hand, all danced attendance 
ar >uiid Caleb otronc, to pr icure the appointment for a man by the name of Ward. 
The Scene was moving It quite overcame the tender ne.vcs of Mr Strong. Th« 
jnan who could mufter the greateft knot of Uncles and Coulins, of Counltllors and 
Jud.^cs, in Qnnxt, thv mo/l poiuerful family annexions, -pKYiilid. This waswhatmight have 
l)een cxpcflel, for Mr. Strong, as wc before 1 id, has vjcak nerves. The intereft.'; ok 
the C'UPty were proftrated, the rights of ihe people ipurned at, Ward got the appoint- 
ment The Ariftocrats were gratified, for the Governor dare refute them nothing. 
The people may "^c; zvhift'e" about their rights, end get redrofs as ihey ran. 

Why is the dignity ot the ftate government proftitured, to promote the views of a 
fet of iniriguers ? Kow does it happen, that the Governor is at one time the humble 
lolicitor i<f an office at the footltool ot the Ceurt, and at another, a miierable tool in 
ihehan'isof l.ia own partiiians? Why has he at one time trampled upon the indepen- 
dence of the Cou.t, and forgotten the nuerefts of a County, to promote the inierefis of 
his own family, and at another, liftensd to the ibhcitations or threats of a junto, rather 
than to the voice of the people i* Avarice incited him iu the one cafe, and timidit\- 
prevented refiftancc in the other. Three thoufand dollars added to the income of his 
family, it mud be confcfled, WbS a powerful ball to a man of Mr. Strong's difinterefted 
benevolence. The denunciations of powerful fedeialifts, were too terrible, to been- 
c-miitevcd even by a niian of hi.'> tremendijus courage. 1 f we would prevent a recurrence 
of thele difi^rriccful Icerxs, a blow ir-uft bz flrucK z'. :hi root of the evil. The I&s- 
Bill must be redvced. 

Bring down the emoluments of office fo low that no man (hall receive more than aii 
adequate coinpenfation for fcrvices rendered, and never will the people of Maffachufetts 
3gMn witnefs a fcene io degrading — lo humiliatiaff, as that of a chief magifirate, con- 
tending with private citizen.";, for the ^'lu.ives and fijiies." The contefts and intrigues, 
which high fees and lucrative offices iiecerr:rily cre.itc among the " natural ariflorracy,'' 
are the leall of all the abominable evils produced by the Ice-Bill. It has created an 
tril\i)cri>cy of law vers and pla e-men, and has reduced more men from a ftate of com- 
petency, to indi-jenrc, and even to beggary, than perhaps any onecaufe befide.';. No 
man was ever entirely yZ^^-^r/ of his property until he had gone through :he fkearin^j 
mill of a lawyer. The Fee-Bill \t admirably conftruftcd to promote the interefl of the 
< raft. Owii'i.r to the multiplicity <if items, it admits of the greateft latitude of con- 

ftruf^ion, and tiie mod charming riiterfity of practice another proof of the " "lo- 

jrious uncc'tsir.tv of the law " — 1 he Sheriffs, Clerks of Courts, Regifters of Deed.s, 
Ilegifters of Probate, and Judges, both of /iz;-^f and //rrt// counties, derive the fame 
fees from ti.is dttoUa! ie law. The crnlequencc has been, that the fherifFs and clerks 
of fome counties, hrve pocketed a clear inco^ee of four thoufand dollars a year. 
While perfoHS of adequate talents, and approved integrity, mii^ht be found to dii- 
*:harge the duties of the offices lor fine eighth part of the fura. 

This abufc has been fuffefcd to exill fur nii.e years by our federal legidators, wi:h- 
(SHt one IJngle attempt having Ucn read-; to cuntdt ir. A pretty ipecimen iui\\, of 
'' federal TtpabUcin'/m!" 




i6 

Mr. Bhke opened the deifence, and, to prove 
the fa<fts, fubftantially, as alleged in the ncwfpa- 
pers, which had been read to the Jury, produced 
the following wirnefTes. 

John Taykr, EJq. In the fall of the year 1789, 
I THINK IN Nov. I was going to Bodon, and re- 
ceived from Mr. Strong a funi of money, not lefs 

than 500 DOLLARS, NOR MORE THAN lOOO DOL- 
LARS, but the exaft amount I cannot now afcer- 
tain, with dire 51 ions to lay it out jor him in public 
paper. FIs told iiie the price, and directed mc 
where to apply, at forne brokers in Bofton, and 
did not wifh me to take the trouble of going round 
myfelf, in fearch foi the fecurities. I accordingly 
laid out moft of the money in fuch fecurities. The 
particular kinds I do not reco]le6l, I bought part 
of thera of a Mr. Jackfon of Bofion. ^hey were 
rijing in the market^ and being apprehenfive that I 
might fnil of piirchafing them to advantage, and 
thus difoblige iMr. Strong, I rode once out to Ded- 
ham, to complete the purciiafe, but did not fucceed 
there. As I returned home, I went out of my 
way, an(i bought the remainder^ of one On thank. 
On my return, J delivered Mr. Strong the JecuritieSy 
which i had purchaled, and the balance of money 
not laid out. After lome calculations of the va- 
lue of the fecurities, he exprefil-d \\imk\i jatisjied 
with the prices I had given. 

Upon a crofs-examination, Mr. Taylor faid that 
Mr. iStrong told him a part or all of the money 
belonged to his mother, and added that his own 

OPINION WAS that IT WAS A HiVZARDOUS BUSI- 
NESS, but his mother had fome money on hand, 
which file did not vv^ant to ufe, and had a mind to 
have It laid out in that way. Being aiked by P*lr. 
Biifs, whether Mr. »5>rong did not mention, that 
his mother's friends had advifed her to have her 



J7 

money laid out in fecurkics, Mr. Taylor anfwercd, 
that he did not recollsdt his mentioning any fuch 
circumftancc. 

Mr. Taylor was a{ked by Mr. Blakc, whether 
Mr. Strong was not a member of congress, at 
the time of his fur chafing ihefe ficurities ? Mr. 
Blifs objeBed to the que^ion^ as irrelevant, that being 
a circumftance not charged in the indi6lment, or 
alleged in the libels. The Chief Juftice obfcrved, 
he believed the federal gcocrnment was not then organ- 
ized", but it was llaied by Judge Sedgwick, and 
admitted, that the new conflitution went into 
operation the fourth of March preceding^ that is, 
1789. The Chief Juftice cxprcfled fome doubt of 
the propriety of fuch evidence. Mr. Blake con- 
tended that it was proper, for the purpofe of re- 
pelling an obje<5tion, which had been raifed by the 
counfcl for the profecution, to the paper charged 
to be libellous, on the fcore of its not merely ac- 
cuiin|; Gov. ^"trong of fpeculation, but imputing 
it to him in aif unworthy fcnfe, as an impropriety 
of conducl. However honourable it might have 
been for a private man to Ipeculate in fuch fccuri- 
ties, it might be highly improper and difhsnour- 
able in a man, whofe official fituation gave him 
opportu7iities, which were not common to his fel- 
low citizens. He thought the f*6t, if true, that 
Mr. i'trong was then a member of Congrefs, was 
material ta the ifiue. The Chief Juftice decided 
that it might be proved^ hut not by the teftimony of a 
tvitnefs. It was matter of record. The defend- 
ant's counfcl fent and procured and brought iato 
court, the printed Journal of the i'enate of the 
United ^States, containhig the name of Caleb 
Stro^c, as a senator. 

Mr. Taylor t being re- examined, faid the price of 
the fecurities, he purchafed in Bofton, did not, 

3 



it 

accoidinj to his recolic6tion, exceed 4/6 in the 
POUND. Thole purchafcd in the country on his 
return, he thought were not quite fo high. In 
anlwer to a queftion from Mr. Blifs, he faid he 
had knovYn Mr. iStrong refule to buy fecurities 
ofTercd to him at his office, and had alfo heard him 
advife Come of his neighbours to keep theirs. In 
anfwer to -^ queilion from Mr. Biake, he faid he 
thought Mr. Strongs mother ivas about -'"jo years 
OLD, when the fecuritles were purchafcd ; but he 
believed flie retained her powers of mind pretty 
well for that advanced age. 

The Hon. Theodore SsSgw'ick, being produced ^h 
a witncfs; vv^as afked by Mr. Blake, vrhcther Go- 
vernor Strong had made an application to the fu- 
preme jadicial court, or to him as a judge of this 
court, for the appointment cf his fin, Theodore 
Strong, to the office of clerk? Judge Sedgwick an- 
fwcrcd, Gov-ernor Strong did not apply to me per- 
foriallv. lie 'wrote tm a letter en the liihjcSi, Vv-hich 
i anfvvcrci. Querdcn by Mr. Blake, Have you 
tliat leiter with ysu ? A. I have not. It is at 
.S'loikbrid^c. I recoiled feeing it a few days fmcr. 
Queffloa bv Mr. Blake, What v.'ere the contents 
of the letter ? This quefiion ivas ohjeBsd to by Mr. 
BUfs^ becaufc- it was not the bed evidence the na- 
ture of the cafe admits. Mr. Blake contended 
r'lat it v.'Es competent J bccaufc the letter, vvhicli 
was acoid-^niaily out of court, did not belong to 
the dtlcndant, he had not, and v/as not entitled 
!o have, iny polidlion or control of it j he could 
not i-roduce it, or compel its produdion ; it was a 
pi ivate paper, aiad not wltb/:n the rcafon of the 
J tile KfporiiVig. contracts in writing, which miill 
be ['rod yet d or liot tcllilied of. The Chi^f Juftice 
enquired v.Ucthcr Judge Sedgv/ick had been noli- 

"■ I( li.'s L:l: ii iincc afccrtainctl tliat in '09 fji'T vvi;?. 72 yoart-.v>«. 



lied or rcqueftdd to produce the letter ? Mr. Blake 
faid, he had. The Chief Jufticc alkod, at what 
time? Mr. Blake replied, during ike prefcnt term. 
Chief Juliice: As the defendant was arraigned at 
the laft term, and Judge Sedgwick was then pre- 
lent, why did he not give earlier notice to have the 
letter produced? Mr. Blakc: Becaufs he did not 
knoii\ tmtil judge Sedgwick's arrival in tl^^is tci^it, 
at the prsfcnt term, that the application made by 
Governor Strong to Judge Sedgwick was by letter. 
The Chief Juflicc decided that, according to the 
common rule of evidence, the contents of the let- 
ter could net, be proved by parol tellimony. 

Qucftion propoicd by Mr. B!ak- lo Judge Sedg- 
wick : After the ccurt had determined not to ap- 
point young Mr. Strong to the clcrkihip, v/as there 
a converfation between you and the Governor, ixi 
Vv'hich he complained and exprciled dif appoint tmnt 
and difjatisf action with the determination of the 
court ? Judge Sedgwick : There was a conversa- 
tion — Objected to by Mr. Biifs, and ovcrrukd by 
the Chi«f Juflice, as an improper enquiry. Mr. 
Blake then propofcd the qucftion in tliio form, 
Did Gov. /Strong, in a fubfequent ccnverfatioii 
ivith y«u, a^mit that he had made application for 
the appcintment of his Ton ? This tp.icflion alfo 
was chjeBed to by Mr. Blijs, becaufe it went to prove 
the CONFESSION OF Gov. Strong, who was not a 
party to this profccution, and by whofe CQnyJjr.ris 
the government, who arc tlie true party, ought 
not to be prejudiced. Mr. Blakc iupported the 
propriety of the queftion, and alkcd v/hcther Go- 
vernor Strong could himfelf be called upon to 
teftify to the fa61:, which- might tend to criminate 
b'imfclj'^ The Chief Juliice laid. That v/as a quef- 
tion, which he fhould not decide unlefs the Gover- 
nor was OiTered as a witnefs to that point. Tiitn 
he muil decide it. But at prefent it vvas only nc- 



20 

ceflary to determine that his confcllioii could net 
be admitted to be proved. 

Queflion by Mr. Blake to Judge SeJ^^wkk : 
Have you any knowledge that Governor Strong;, 
while a member of Coiigrefs, purcbafcd public fecu^ 
rifies? A. I have no perfonal knowledge on the 
fubjecSl. I recolk6l — The Chief Juftlce oblervcd 
to Judge Scdg^Aick, that, as he had no perfoni:! 
biowledge on the fubjecl, it would be unncceffary 
to flatc any circumflances. 

T'he Hon. Samuel Sewall ws:^ produced, as a v/it- 

nefs, and alked, whetlier Gov. Strong peiTonally 

applied to him refpeiting the appointment of his 

fon to the cierkihi[) ? Judge Sewall anfv/ered, Two 

or three years ago, at Boftpn, I waited on the 

Governor, as I was about leaving tov/n j and he 

mentioned to me that there was expeSfcd to be a 

'■cacancy in 'the ckrkfhip, by the reiignation of Mr. 

Lyman, and that his fon ivGuld be a candidate for 

the appointment. He faid his fon had written fome 

time in Mr. Lyman's oflice, and he fliewed me 

{omQfpecimens f^f bis hand-writing. I made no ai- 

gagemcnt, and prefunie he did not expe6l me to 

r;):ikc any. i don't reco!lc6l any further conver- 

larion with the Governor on the fubjecl, until 

tifter the Court had decided ageinft the appointment 

cf his fon. Queftion by the Chief Jnltice, Did 

Gov. Strong, when he informed you that his fon 

\vould be a candidate fcu' the clerkfliip, fay that 

there was a vacancy already, or that there would 

be one ? Aniwer : I cannot recoiled, whether he 

iaid that there was one, or that it was expecied 

there would be one. (^itfl:ioi-i, by the Chief Juf- 

tke, Did Gov. Strocj!; make nfe of any perluafioii 

to influence your determination in favour of the 

appointment cf his Ton ? A. No more than vvhat 

I have mtntioned. lie appeared tome to be very 

delicate and cautious. 



'21 

Qaeftioii by Mr. Blake to Judge .Sevvall : Was 
Gov. Strong's converfation with you before or af- 
ter his nomination of Mr. Lymatt to tlie office cf 
chief juftice of the court of common pleas of this 
county ? Anfwer : I do not know. 

The Chief Juftice enquired of Judge Sedgwick, 
whether as a member of Congrefs, Mr. Strong 
had any better means, than people at large, to judge 
of the rife of public securities? To which Ju^ige 
Sedgwick anfwered, I recollect that, at the prece- 
ding felTion of Congrefs, the lecretary of the trca- 
fury, in purluance of an order of the houfc, made 
a report on the fubje^l of the public debt j and 

SUCH CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSIONS TOOK 
PLACE AMONG THE MEMBERS OF CoNGRESS, 
THAT WE WERE GENERALLY OF OPINION, THAT 
THE DEBT WOULD BE FUNDED AT THE NEXT 

SESSION, and that, of course, the evidences of 
IT must RISE JN vALUi. I remember I thought, 
although it would not be unlawful for gentlemen, 
To fituated as we then were, to purchafe public 
paper, yet that it would be imprudent^ indelicate 
and improper to do it ; and, therefore, 1 declined to 
make any fuch purchafss, altho' they were offered 
to me, and altho' Ibme of my friends urged me to 
purchafe. This I underftood to be the general 
impreffion of the members of Congrefs, and I have 
never heard of more than three or jour injiances of 
fuch pur chafes of fectirittes being made by any gentle^ 
man under thofe circumjlances. 

Qutftion by the Chief Juftice to Judge Sedg- 
wick : You fay you underltood fuch to be the ge- 
neral expedation and imprtfiion of members of 
Congrefs, at that time j do you know whit was 
Mr. Strong's opinion ? 

Anfwer, I ^q not rccolk<51: his opinion particu- 
iarlv. 



yofeph Prober i Efq. introduced as a vvitnefs t© 
the la(t count in the indidtment, was ailced by Mr. 
Blake, whether the nomination of Mr. Ward to 
the olHce of ftieriff of Worccfter, did not produce 
a general dijjatisf a6ii on in that county^ The queilion 
was objeBed to by Mr, Blifsy and the Chief Juftice 
diredled him to be firft enquired of, whether he 
had any perfonal knowledge of Mr. Ward's nomina- 
tion^ Mr. Procler anfvv'cred, he knew it by com- 
mon report, but not perfonally. The Chief Juf- 
tice decided againft the adniiffio;i of fuch evidence^ 
and faid the nomination and appointment could 
be proved cnly by a copy cf tbj records cf the CcunciL 

Newfpapers, publiihed from different preffcs ia 
the county of V/orceiier, about that titxie, were 
C'lTered, to prove that there v>'as a general difiatis- 
fadioi\ among the citizens of that county, of all 
poiiiicai parties. The Chief Juftice held that fuch 
€videiic;i v/as inadmiilible, as it would not tend to 
ih')w the Governor's motives,' in making the no- 
.ir/uiarion and ap point it: en t. Mr. Biake argued, 
that his motives could be proved only by inference 
from liis aciions, explained by the circumftanres 
attending tliem, and the confequences produced by 
them. I'he Chief Juftice decided that, the ncjni- 
nation itfelf mi being proved, it was not competent 
to prove any fuppoled confequences of a fact, thus 
fuggefled, but not proved. 

Willicm Butler was called again upon the ftand, 
and re-examined by Mr. Blifs. Do you knov/ the 
defendant's types, \o that you can determine v/he- 
ther the papers here produced were printed with 
them? A. I have never examined his types, but 
only feen his paper — Obje6ted to by Mr. Blake, 
as being not even fo good evidence as limilitude of 
hand- writing. The Chief Juftice told Mr. Blifs 
he ought not to prefs that enquiry. It was at beil 
evidence of a very doubtful nature. 



23 

Qut^fllon by Mr. Blifs to Mr. Butler, Have you 
ever before heard Maj. Taylor relate the ftory of 
his being employed by Mr. Strong to purchafe fe- 
curities ? A. I have. Q^ What account did he 
then give of it ? A. Very much the fame, as he 
has now teftiiied ; only he added, that he regretted 
he had not fpeculated hinifelf in public fecurities; 
but he did not do it, on Mr. Strong's account, 
lejt it fiould offend hi?n. 

John Taylor, Efq. called again, faid, it was trus 
he did regret he had not engaged in paper fpccula- 
tion, rt/ that particular time, and that he did abftain 
from it, becaufe he was then in Mr. Strong's office, 
in connexion with him in bufinefs, and thought 
it would be difagreeahle and difrepuiahk to Mr, 
St?'o?ig, in the public fituation he was then in, to have 
fiich fpeculation carried on in his office. 

HQllifler Baker was produced, by Mr. Blifs, as a 
witnefs to the publication, but could not teftify 
to any perfonal knowledge of it. 

Mr. Gold clofed the defence, when the Court 
adjourned until the i-^ext day. 

Saturday, Sept. 20. An inJi6lment heretofore 
found againft Timothy Aililcy, former Printer of 
the Republican Spy, for publifhing fonie of thefe 
and other charges again ft Gov. Strong, was read 
from the files of the Court. 

Mr. Blifs clofed the cafe, on the part of the 
profecution. The Chief Juflice charged the Jury, 
who, after being out about five hoursj returned 
their vcrdi^, Guilty. 

7'Iie defendant's counfel moved the whole Court, 
compofed of Parfons, Chief Juflice, Sedgwick and 
Sewall, Juftices, to grant a new trial, on the ground 
that the Chief J ulTice had erred, at the trial, ill*. 

IN RFJ ECTISG PARUL TESTIMONY Of THE CONTENTS Of GoV. 

Strong's LETTtR. to Judge Sedgwick, soliciting thk 

CLfcRKSHIP FOR HIS SO'N ; sdlv, IN REJKCTING EVIDENCE Of 

Gov, Strong's ccnfession that «£ hao so:icit£d rat 



24 

iduri to appoint his fin j end '^dly^ in rejedfing the 
teftimony of Mr. Procter, and the ncwfpapcrs of 
Worccftcr county, to ihow the general dijfdtisfac- 
tion of the people of that county at the nomina- 
tion and appointment of »SherhT Ward, as alleged 
in the paper charged to be libellous. 

The motion for a new trial was overruled ; 
and 

The Chief Jufiice pronounced the fentence of 

the Court, that ANurvEV/ Wright, th» defendant, bk 

IMPRUOKED SIX months; REC»GN'IZE IN THE SUM OF SIX 
HUNDRED DCLLARS, WITH SUFFICIENT SURETY OR SURETIES 
IN THE LIKE SUM, TO KEEP rH»PEACJS AND Bi OF GOOD BE- 
HAVIOUR, FOR THE TERM OF THREE YEARS, COMMENCIKG 
FROM THE TERMIKATION OF HIS IMPRISONMENT; TO PAY THS 
eOSTS OF FROSESUTIOXj AND STAND COMMITTED UNTIL SEN* 
■rEM€S BE FERFORWSD. 



A SUMMAP.Y. 

Although the Tncli6lment contains fix counts, 
yet ilicrt; in fa6l are but tiirce material charges 
agaiaft rhs Defendant j to wit, that he did tallely, 
inalicioufly and feditioufly piibiilh, ift. That Gov. 
Strong had dl/Jjorte/ily and minghUouJIy speculated 
in public feciiriiies. 

2diy, Th^t Gov. Strong did, with unparalleled 
meannejs^ (olicit the judges of the fupreme judicial 
coui L, to appoint his fon to the clerldhip of the 
fupreme judicial court, and the court of common 
picas, for the county of Hiimpfliire. 

3dly, That Gov. Strong had condu6led impro- 
perly in the nomination and appointment of a 
lhr:rift for the county of Worceftcr — tliat he had, 
irom weaknefs and indifcretion, yielded to corrupt 
perfuafions — arid that he had balely proftraied the 
intcrefts, and Inurncd the rights of the people of 
that county. 

Thedc^-ndani, in his defence, attempted to prove 
that the publications, "fi^itjiibfiantialh true. 

APPLICATION OF, THE EVIDENCE IN DEFENCE. 
To the firjl charge. 

Bv the Journals of Congrefs and the tefliimony 
of the Hon. Theodore Sedgwick, it appears, 
that, at the March fcflion 1789, the' Hon. Caleb 
Strong, Efq. was a member of the Senate of the 
United States of America — and that, in confequence 
of a report of the Secretary of the Treafury, inadsi 
at that feffion, and in purfuance of an order of the 
Houfc of FwCprefentatives, converfations and dif- 
cufii'^ns took place on the fubje6l of l\\t public debt, 
whicti induced the membcro of Congrefs to form 
an opmion that xh^ public debt would be funded at 
he next IcHlon 5 which was to be on the firft Mon~ 
tay oi". January next following — and that it was, at 
that time, the opinion of the m^^mbers^ generally, 

4 



26 , 

that the evidences of the public debt would rife in 
valae — and that the members were alfo of opinion^ 
that it would be imprudent, indelicaic and impro- 
per for them, under their peculiar circum fiances, 
to purchafc that public pnper^ which was ahoiit to 
be funded. It alfo appears by faid journals, that 
Congrcfs Jidjourned on the 29th Sept. i7§9, to the 
firft Monday in Jan. 1790, at which lefTion the 
debt was in iidi funded; after which, it is well 
known, public fecurities immediately ^i'^o^tto par. 

By tl:e lelYimony of Maj. Taylor, it appears 
rbar, during the recefs of Congrefs, in that very 
year, to wii-, 17^9, after it was believed by the 
i'iV£iiibr!r3 oi Congrefs that the public debt would 
be faiided, 2.n'^ after they had formed an opinion, 
tb.at "// 'd'ould he imprudent^ indelicate, and improper' 
for them, under their peculiar circumilanccs, to 
purchafe jjubiic t)an'-r,; and'be.^re it v/as, in fafl", 
funded, the Hon. Caleb Strong, Efq; did a^iually 
fend, between 500 aiid loco dollars to B:>n:on to 
pufchafe public papery z.r^A that the public paper 
r.\^3 bought ar 4/' and 4/6 on the pound, and de- 
LverAl to him. 

If tliis evidence is true, \\\z Hon. Caleb Strong, 
Eil\ in ; 709, vvlicn a member of Congrels, and 
vvhiic ;::- luiciiion of the fundin:^ fyflem wns 
pendin^;-, did, in one infrance, whether proper o^c 
ini'yrc'^er, delicate ox indclic a: <f, T'-nxhafe as muc'i 
public pTfXT, as would ir bv;L;ji;!ir at //6 \\\ the 
p-.;und :i:;d funded at par, }deld a profit of 1700 
'dolias-s : and if tliat was speci;l.-vTINg, he did 

hi i;:dIiaiion, extenffratjon, r,r juftification of the 
ciuivL';- of fpecalut?onj it is faid tliat ti-tr money 
!:;;;; "'V Maj. Ta}dor did, in faCl, belong to the 
li . ., vw^AVv^x ^ vv iio was then 72 years old : 

. iivts: ihe, at that advanced a^e, engaged in the.. 
.. ,iwi ,a'ii:\ contrary to tlie advice of her onlv fen. 



~7 • 

But if the public paper wliich was actually bolighf, 
did belong to the old lady, prr.y where is it? Did 
Ihe fcli it in her life tiiiie ? Did (lie pkcc it in the 
public funds ? Did (he difpofc of it by will, or 
leave it for her adminiftrator ? If, either of thefi 
qucftions could have been anfvvercd in the affirma- 
tive, it might ];ave been done to the jury. At any 
rate, if the bargain was hti'iy fiie was veryiucky, 
or very fagacious in ?:ick!rig that fortunate crijls. 

To iksjecond charge. 

By the Hon. Theodore Sedgwick, it appears th?.t 
Gov. Strong did write to him on the fubjetl of the 
appointment of Theodore Strong to the clerk's 
ofiice aforefaid 3 but, as t'ne letter v/as not pro- 
duced, the contents of it could not go in evidence 
to 1 he jury^ 

By the Hon. Samuel Scwall, it appears tluuGov. 
Strong did perlbnally (late to him, that there was 
expected to be a vacancy in the clerkfhip, by the 
relignation of Mr. Lyman, and that his ion The- 
odore would be a candidate for the office; and 
that Go'7. Strong did exhibit Ipecimens of his ion's 
hand-v/riting. It was further proved by both t;ic 
judges, that the queftion whether the Governor's 
i'on fliould be appointed or not, vv-as determined in 
tile negative. Thus it appears, by pofitive tcla- 
moBy, which cannot be impeached, that Governor 
Strong did addrefs, at kail two members of th^ 
fupreme judicial court, both of v/hom he had ZV,v:- 
yt"^^ appointed to their offices, upon the fubjeift of 
the appointment of his own/on, to one of the moll: 
lucrative offices in the commonwealth of MafTa- 
chufetts. But whether this was yeconinu-ndation, 
atplicatioii, ox folldtaiiou : or whether it was " un- 
paralleled meannefs," or very honourable^ was .1 
quefiion for the juiy to determine, und on that 
qucftion the public will alfo form their opinion. 



28 

To the till I d charge. 

Here the defendant OiTerecl to prove, by the 
public nevvfpapers ci" both political p.inies in ibe 
county of Vv orcellcr, ■Q.n(\ by the teftimony of wit- 
neffcs, that the noin'niation and a|»jK>n!iment of 
the ibcriff in that county txci;ed <\ general clamour, 
and that both parlies united in execjatnig the 
inearure. But as he jcould not prove, by tbe records 
of the Council, that any appointment was made, he 
was not aiiovvcd to iiitioduce any otljer evidence ; 
and of cou! ie had no defence to this chsrge. How- 
ever, to exculpate bimi:;]f from the imputation of 
ivanlon malice, Mr. Wright thinks it his duty to 
offer to tiie pubhe a few extra6ts from the iS-^is 
and Thon-as's Mafl'achufttts Spy, which Were 
])ubl:ilied [>rior to tlie publication for which this 
chariie in the indiflment was founded : and v%'hich 
were to have betn offered to the jury, had live court 
ihcught proper to sdmit fiich evidence. 

LXTSACI;', 

TA.K':>f iT(?sy;.Y x•x-,'^ t ::.'"/a-'5 S"\', v,';-:'-:i 13 /, r£i r" A.i. v>.i"5b. : ;oMJ or vi aic^i 



V.'e 'earn t'.iat Thom.m vV. Ward, Kiq. <t\ ^ureA'tbuvy. 11, s bee-i no'ni'i.".a;c;l by his 
£xcdle-icy t.iie Govesnor. .is K (Ch SuKRirr for this Caunty 

Oil the af.ove fulijcct-lhc £c; roii aokr.o'.vlcc'ijcs tte leceipf of i,sytr.-!l Ccmmumca- 
Tiosfs, yet be deems it his duty t". io'jcnd thorn for ihe pri'leat — Whlit; we rcjret 
thjitan afr-iv 10 iritereiiir.': to t-ie ii habitaiits of the coutity, fliould be received with 
foch general and letticd cii;oppr')'o3t'iO«, we ar.e n^t diijjoied to in'-puteany fimie of it 
to his f.xcsLi.«5JCv.- Ill a trsainftion of this kind we sie aware of the diOicuhics 
which he'ift hii 1 His judgment muA. be formed in a great rneahire irum the repre- 
fentatiors he receives, and his iiiiiuip Ciing ihii.d vjis, not awar« of iho meafurLS vi hich 
■•Acre taken to ciir.viuce hiin, thai tiicir cojiunci.daiions, vh'.fh ir. f;il vcrc mace (iii'.y 
by his connexions and iiitereflcd fricinls^ i^vould be r.-ir.aioncd by the pr.blic. It ap- 
perrs evide.it trom what irtfornialion we hsVe L-een ;.b!e to collet in fo fhoit a period, 
that he is not a man whom the people at laiv,e i.. this county wculd h::vc laniticned 
by ditii' fufFra^es, h^d it beai fuhmitted to i\'x'.\ chnice, v.-htte.er declirations rn?y linve 
\e.ti\ made to his ExcELi.F.iiCY to the Cv-iatrfiry nctwithlh^ndinj; ; snd we are 1)'ild in 
aiTsrting tint the ROtnii.ai-n is by no nriecns gvatifyii'g to the FEDERAL or DEMO- 
CRATIC prriy, :,nd that the aijpoii.tUient w'Vd here^qretted by THOUSANDS. 

l^l'r.orruis' i tpy, Jv'y ao, 1805: pdlifned aljo inl'iu A'gis ] 

THE vo'ce i-if difilTefVici! srcl furprife appears to rave fpvead i'^ c- cry part cf tur 
.'r,;.;.;y., '"t the iatc ;icmin»t;on of Ml Wak'j, asfheiifi. The Ediior in his l.ifi, ;ic- 
knowledgtd the reception of fcveiaj " cowtmumcations" en the fubjeCl, whicli l-.e 
fb'T'M^ht be!\ to fntpend " few days; I'lnce which feveral more have been received. As 
re cr.iKeiv<-s it the duty of ci'irors of public i:ewfp;per5, to give publicity to manly, 
(pen n>id dirii.levefb'd dib'riTii lis of public nie;i »'..d public m.eafnrcs, he has this day 
givei' p'ace-to tw'. of the " commiinicutioiis," whi^h en!;;rofs tht ientimenls of al! the 
others, a. id ;is piiiliPni.ig the wh.dc would take up too much room, he is undci the 
i-'--c"ity' of lrvi.;g the rtfidue aF.de. 



29 

•• Vv*!:.\T, tl.rn, arc the prrtf^ions of Mr. Vv'AaO; to the i.Kpor:>nt ot7:i:« of Kigl 
.;.hcrlii ? A'.e the public incclted to him for a!^y inj^orlii.t iVrvi; cs he has ever i«;r,(ier- 
c\ ? Has the. voice of tlic people, in sny inftancc, bon cteilimony to hi» uitrit or ;)oV' .- 
lavity ? Does he poffefs tlie tllecm and confidence of -j majority of the comity, the 
tov.'.i, or the neighborhood in which he lives? Hss he ever teen dcii;;r.hteJ, l>y th«ir 
fufir.) es to fill any office ciil.cr of trufl. or of profit ? Is h-s cir.ini. thsp., fjunoed on his 
own perfoiial meiit, or does it defce.;d to him, like an heir l\tw>, fjojn the rark and 
tlijliicli'm of an niuctlc.r ? If hereditary titles to otT'.n are to he admitted, and tha i'?.- 
ti;er cf Mr. Ward was vsot fully comperdatcd iy the public f-vor, for all the public 
I'crvices he h;d rendered, then, pei^haps, hi) f'xcellency might h^ve found, in the claims 
•f his birthright, fom^; adequate naioa for his nomination. 

3v.t die truth i.s, Mr. 'Vard has more powerful friei.tJt ot Court thn:i ar.y cth;r cnn- 
iidits. He hs!» a Irother ancl a near and potMerful conntKion in t!:e Council. He Irs 
a brerh(r in laui \a the Senaie, who ii alio a jiidjje of the Court.oi Common t*lcas. The ■ 
myftery of hi.s n«mina'ion is thus unravelled. Thele geatlcir.in arc nut dir«ft'y ac- 
c^ira of intenfivnaily milreprefei.tiiij the qualificiiti Tf of their ki.nfman." 

" It is a j(>/f«/!(v7;-conSderati jn, in the Jiicu^riou of this uvptcjf&rtt fcbjeC;-, thst i.-i 
this inftance there is no diff renc* of lentur.ent between the diif.re^.t politicil parties ia 
l!;e county. " > 

'• If the maxim, that " th-; voic« of the people is the voice of God," has not become 
Elio^ether oblo ete and exploded, it will not yet be permitted by Providence, that 
Th.'r=« V;olttr V/ard, Efq. fnall bs HIGH SHERIFF of the 

COUNTY of WORCE3 fER." 
" ALAS ! Is it not to be Ismcnted that any gentleman fhouid be fo deilitute of the 
good of the county as to deceive, and isfluence a nominatiou fo obnoxious to nineteen 
tv.-er.ticths ot tl:» pe:.ple of the county. VO X PO PUL I. " 

[Thomas's Spy, July 17, 1S05.] 
" THE meafure hss been a fubject of mnchconv^rlatior., and of micch lurprile. The 
£tuatiou of the hditir has enabled him (wiliiout taking wur,^ psir.s) to learn tic fjnti- 
iHents of the people in almoft every town in the county. The more he has heard on the 
fubjeft, the more fsilly has he been fatisfied that his firil intirnati'U, and the ftatement 
( I his " co;iRES?o.N!Dr.NTs" in the " Spy" are peife£l;y correft. He now boldly afferts, 
tliat if tha sihce were to be filled by the luffrag«s of the people, Thonias W. Ward, 
ll'.-q. v/ruld net have a majority of votes in a f!!;gl« town iii the county, the tov^i' of 
Shrewlbury n»t excepted. This may be conliciered as a bold affertion, bat our mean? 
cf infcrmat; >n *rer.eitiieryfw rar jnu'l. The voice of dififfcfiioa in the centre. Hill 
cor.tinues to fill our ears and vibrates frcn Eali to Well — the North gives up, and the 
South keeps not h£cl<.." [Thomas's iipy, July 24, 1825.! 

" AS we had freely publiflied our fentimeiits, whca the mealure wae fii ft annouLced, 
and had then faid wlnt we deemed fuiTicier.t, tu coiivirce every impartial citizei;, tffat 
, ae was not the man whom the people w«uld delight to h >nor, •.\ c luvc fsrbor ie from 
further remai;ks ; — not bacauic wo have in ths leail do^ree changed our opii'.ion ; not 
becauftf wc have believed, thst the ftep which was then taken, was premature or pre- 
ripitata ; not bacaufe wfc have dreaded tha refcntmerit of Mr. Ward, or the liit'e pha- 
lanx of his perfonal friends; — but becauie we v/ere willing to diimifs this difgulling 

ful>je£l." " V.'e think it incumbent o\ us once for all to declare, that our opinio;), 

s; to this obnoxious meaiure, is lliU unchanged ; th;t every euquiry v\e h.ive m.ade, hs« 
i'iied to the mbfs of evidence, upon which this opiiiion was f»uadcd. and th<;t the 
kpfe of every ma^nsnt of tim.e, fmce the momnt of his nemination, h is llrengtherjcd our 
biiitT, that were the ofF.ce to he fiHsd by the fuffrages of tke pecple, all the perfoi.r.I 
exertions of Mr. Ward, a;'.d his li;tle vcfmn hand, would not lecure to him ON£ 
JHOUSAND votes in the county !" [Tkomas's Spy, Od. 9, 18C5.] 

I 'J the truth of the remarks of our nei<^hbor Thomas, which heads his ar'icle, fo far 
S3 rsfpsfts the impropriety of the nomiiirtion, the n inner in wl-.ich it was procured, 
sv.d. the feelings which it his e.xcited in both parties, wc peifeftlv agr*e. Ii all proba- 
ta; ty, a mire unpopular nomination could not have been made. A.t*, moft ail".!!- •,- 
ly, amor; i;7iprr.per one cannot be conceived. Wc have repestcdly sfi;«d, and v.iia 
flitPi. grave and lerieus curioF.ty, what were the recomaiesdariors, which fecored Mr, 
Wnrd the preference over 10 prominent candidates, as were propofcd for this office. 
Wr-s it his taknri, h\r, rjutation, his mar.Kers, khhumciTiifx, his inucr'fy, or theefiimrii-n 
iu which he v.tz held ? [■' ' ' " ' " " '' 

MUCH mr^ was written on the fub;<".8: ; Itdi as Czc papers are r.ov L-fjve tl:c ni:b- 
^, it t". unsecfJlary to ira>c further extra A<. 



3<^ 

?-ROM tht f.)rcgotag piiHlicatior.s, if t.hc pub'.ii pap»rs of ckher polilitsl pirty si* 
dcftiviiid cf any creoit, we hive all the fvid^nce v^hicli the ^arure cj the csfe v. ill ad- 
T.-it of, that t>. jppoi.itmJ'it oi T. ^V . Ward, Lin. was extrerr.s'y obnoxi'ms to f v.riy 
jrreAt majority of the citizens, (•[ b..l!j pfllitlc;*! parti«, iit the e«>ijnty of Worr.v.iVcr — 
that every pofuble exertion Wis m»'k; by thofe citizens to pjeventit; and that the Go- 
vernor muil have kii^rA-n, b.:foie the aj>poiatment, what the feelings ai'd wifhes of the 
* people were upon the, fubjefl;. 

Is is alfo well kuow to the public, th^t JVIr. Wsvri hid pou'erful Te!ali.:nj anj/riei'.js 
in the Senate anri Council, ;-;t fbe tirr.c lif hrs sppointirei'.t. 

No m?!i wiil l.'flieve, t'ir\t the Govsriior would have appoihtud a fiicrifF in fo re-- 
{pe&Mt A couciy, agaiuft t!ie m iPnes of fo hrgc a majority or its inhabitants, w ithoi't 
{oine cauji. Some c-i'.'f^ r.niR have exiftcd. The foregoing pnblicstions ir.finiuti; 
t'lat itwfs ov/iiitr to the i.-f^t-sprc of I*!r. V.'ud's friends and relations. Mr. ^'^'ric■J 
fa id the f« me. But the J^ay, by;' :, have di;:!ar'.-d that Mr. Wrigl'.t v;3s 

SUILTy. 

It has fo." a i 1'-; ii;' r i rrn confi.'U'.r.Td, by tre public, » qi'eflion of importsnc?, 
v;het]icr or not Gov. Strong aftr.ally did, while a member of Coiigrcl's, and during 
the pendency of the iubje-^ of t'le ruNriNC system, fpcculato in,' or purchaf- soldilrs' 
»ECURiTH«. ' '3 be Rcpublicar..'! i;i their el'ftionfciinjt piibjications liave perfevcred in 
fiating that he did ; Ftdci»lifts have uniformly denied the fscl. 

Mr: lymsn's refjgnation of the Clerk's office in the county of Hampib.ire — the ap- 
pointnie.it of Mijj. Taylor to th?,t office — and, the odd manner in which Mr. Lynisu 
refjgiieJ bis commlfiion of judge of the court of common pkas, and refnrred ths 
fame clerk's olfice, to the excb.ifion of Maj. Taylor, whom, it was iuj>pored, bad bee.i 
fairly appoinled, are ciraumftzuced involved in ths njyfrery cf ftate poiicy. " Puzr.led 
in mazes and perplexed with error, our underftandsngs trace them, in vsin." I'.n'. it is 
believed lh?t ;he evidence in this trial will throw much light on this, as -well rj or. the 
fubjf.,':i of frc:';'3t'-n. 

It i.'s maiirn- < f '.prions regret that there were fuch " inuinfic difScultie.\," in the way 
of proving IfguHy^ that Mr. Ward was in faft ev«r nomi.iatsd or appointed. Byt 
however clear this iinportsnt hSi mi<^ht b?ve been to ths cyo of conarr.on iei:ire, it Vv-3S 
tvijent/y involved in technical darkneis. In ordinary cafes, frtcii^s are both .-oiaina'.ti 
and appointed before they take, the oath of cfiico. la this cafe it might h:vc been 
otherwife. 

Mr. Wri'hl pabiinicd fcmr- very fevere remrks upon thcfs fubjecls. In o'hrr tinirs 
they would moll: certainly hr.ve been thought hiyQi and interaperate. But, if he can- 
not be juflifled by the law of retaliation; yet, perhaps, tho held vianner, and tvanton 
(liUider oi federal writers, may have been, in a 2r.*rt meafura, the caufe of his ir.isforr. 
tune, r.nd nnift palliate bi.s offence. On the whole, is there a ilngle difinlerefled, im- 
parti.il, nnp-.c'iudiced, and candid man, who will read this Krport with atte.:t;c,'!, bu-t 
.•n:jjl fay th«re is indeed •" som4tking F.OT'raN in DErwARK." 



APPENDIX. 

ON'E IiKaclmffut has bsen found, by a Grand Jury of thft County, a^lnft Tim^tky 
J/iik\\ laic Printtr of the " Rtpublican Spy." Mr. Aflilcy, believing, «i h« Rated to 
Lit friends, that he could not have a/air tiial, in the preftntjlutt tf party prejidkes in 
'vliis county, removed out of the Commonwealth. 

Two ludiilmeiits have been found againft Andrew Wright, the Pjiufer of " Repub- 
lican Spy." 0.'>*' of ihem was quafhed, on the motion cf the countel for the profe- 
cution. On the otl.cr he ha^ btcn tried mnd ccnvuled andfentcn:td *nd is now fujferxvg 
imbrifinmeitt. W'lifther his prc(> «an b« fuppoitcd, under luch emVarrafTments, muft 
be dftein;ined by t!ie fxpetiment. 

lirMi iNDic-j.MiNfj havfe been found ajaiuH: Charles Shepherd, for publicstions in 
the " P.ej»ublican Spy." On one of thcin he has bean, acquitted, in coiilequeaca of 
errors in tke indi'chuent, whjph wis drjiwn by John lltoker, Efijuire. The other tu» 
are ftill pendtngl l 

V^hiw tneafurej were perccfvad to be in train for procuring !h« above indlftmenfc, 
fome Republicans, with a view* to promote an impartial adminiftration of juftice, ar:d 
to prevent prolccutions againfl printers and writers of one politic*/ defcription, while 
thole of tpfofitc politics niigiit'pafs unn«ticed, czufed a number of federal ncwfjiapers, 
pi'.blifhed in the county, and containing, in their oplmion, very libellous matters, to b« 
delivered to grand jurors, with a fequeft to hare them laid before their brethren for 
coi.ilderation. Yet ni iniiBiitnt has tpteared on them a^^ainit any federalijf. It is 
prerumt ] that the gran'd juries, who arc moji fj'ertnly fujoni to ail impartially, havahad. 
iome flj^cient rejfins ior thh d\hin£t\Qn; bu.', as their deliberations ar« fecret, the 
public cannot know w};:,t thole realons are. ■; , ! 

That the r..c.!er may be en.ibled to judjc for him'elf, whetl-.er the federal papers, 
pufeliftied in ihis county, hava not been at lesft as libellsus as thofe on the republics;; 
iii-;, a few extrjStsfar; iubjoiried. 

" HAVE ysu noLhin^to fjv about Mr. JcfFerfcn's employing-, aiding with matter, 
eriGouragiugand rewaidiug the infansjus libelleroi V/afhington ? Have you ncthingto 
fay of his taking money from the Uiiited States, to fhew hli partialiiy to this milcreaiit? 
Wi!I you fay nothing cf his bjfene's and' treachery t« thecompinlon of his youth, and 
fiie".d of his rip«r ye<.rs ? Will you fty nothing of hit profligate habits ? Wiil ys;u rc- 
fu'c t;> vindicate his allcjjed and proved inj^ralltude to a venerable fiiend and patron ? 
7'hL'!c arc points uhich involve reputation. A good man may want the nenx of a 
%varrior; but ba'cncfs, trcn^he-y, falfehood, proSig?cy and ingratitude, are nat mere 
foibles." llig^n'Jliire Gaz. Cd. z, 1805.] 

'■ He [meaning Mr. Jcllerloii] who had i^.;orBtnc:;ded and fan£li»ned ths moftopen 
violaiiofij of that coullitution vs iinlf principles he had Iworn ts fupport. Ke who 
" feeling power and forgetting right," could m«ft philofophicaliy take the bread from 
the moi'tli of the war-worn ioidier, and btilow it upon him who was riean eueisgh 
" to pleafe bim w ith tlie rattle, or tickle him wilh the fliaw" ot fiittery. He v/Iio while 
he hypocritically draps a tear on the alhes of Vx^afl^ington, hires a •' fcoundrel tnor;? 
— than himlelf" ta blacken wit* vi!e(l calumny, the memory n«t Qnly ef Waihingtcn, 
Lvit of every noble friend to hi» cou::t:v " 

[H.m!^^ire Caz. iUkSept. iSc^.'] 

" I have thus proved aecordir.j to my promife', by public records, open to the in- 
fi-'-fi'on of every man, that Mr. Sui!lv;;n bss u'.tercd Ealkhaod ujjon falfchocd, (k«f he- 
hj3 ebtaii'fd m^ey fraudulently, and olr.cially claimed the authority of jovernment 
Y.'.herc he h.id it not. - ■»'• 

I fii^ll h^jtfli tlei'e rcmaiksvv.iUiCQr.f.rr..ctioncf the Isfl, End by no means the leaft 
f,';-iou.s char;rr — that fyS' Mr. S\dllvan pockrts public monie.-, received by him for the 
Cwmmoir.vf.T''!''' T: t' s lias been bis practice, can any rcan in «onfcience vote for hira 
to be our G [Supplernist to 11. Gaz. ad Jprli, liob- 

" THE difLi.otatllcn, jealoi - iX, prevaiJWg among the cnajority ia Con- 

grofs, added to their total varU'- *r:ccipleav.d capacity, i-iuft deflroy thew ; 

but when thefe dregs will icttlr to ir.': ro:: nn, or wlieiher order and fyiiiiretry v, ill 
KTiaie out of this confu^iju and cliaos, the Lar* kjiaws." 



:)- 

«' Q. Yf"h»l is t Dei'Jioirat ? — \. Or.* v.'ho hr.s been feiitciced to C: upoU tl.;^r';!.'/^itt5 
Willi a Tope round his n»:k, jiartici'c, mutridde, murderer, th^i'f, c/iea'. rc£ue, inx-t, 
cth.'iil. dei/}, bucca-i^rey. tle'c sre all acmceraU. ^In ilicrt. a'nythr,:^ z^hi k can le calitd 
CRIME IS A Democrat." ' :' 

" Do thsy [the derr.oerafs] '-"r lli^ f-mfi/f ? Moaftrous idte ' Whcii -.volvis. with all 
their fiercencfs, are jret'tle as lanbs. siid devils^ vji^h jll^Jicif^fr,.':!:^!:, are »j r.!'.;r'y.s, thei, 
and uat till then, rr!?y ftrfi n'et: iucccfsfiilly jjTcrt tjseir tit!e?to patriotifr.:;/' 

• Rcpuhlij£f:iifni, fjys the ffoenl Port Folio, ij " the:-accurfid ajf. c-i ccckairk'- 
*!hith has poifonci haij the nu,!iims." '■ ' ■■ 

" B2 sftouiraed, O Karth! th:.t th, viizir men in the coi ■•.■nuui-y, C- 
wicklcdnefs, tbc'.e '.•, ho of all nsen are peculi?i-!y A STJf NCH Ii\ THE KOoi illi. j 
OF A KOLY GOD, cin be confidcrcd as pitriols, qi' hicr.tls to die pc«p1»!" 

la suditlpn to all thvs,^ the majority cf our Stat; L^^i.l'luri have been ca'.Ied a c:.;. 
fp'.'-cy, and cccufsd of rr-Rju.iY and Tr.E^^soK. 



FELLOW CITIZENS, 

Here, amidli the ra^^e and devaflatioii or a molt 
inniignant and cruel newfparrcr wariare, dedruc- 
t'r/e of national lafety and 4orncriic llappiaefs, v/e 
fee one rolitary Printer fcie61ed aiM doomed to 
inevitable ruin. At the fame, time w^ fee others, 
whofc EuiK is of a deeper die. efcape vrith impimi- 
'(7, and fuff^rcd to kclTat the miiery of f:ocir vic- 
tim. Mr. Wright lias received his yl^/j/r?zf^, and i:: 
now in a prison — he lias not been heard to* com- 
plain, but like a good crrrsEr:, lie fabmits to his 
fate, and yields obedience to the l^ws of his coun 
try 5 which laws he hopes in God, may be fairly 
•adaiiniftered, and never pr>:>ilituted to the vile* 
purpofcs Qi private malice, or vindictive party 
ft:int. 



\^;^€Qbr-Ri'yhtfiiuredfor tht htm jit cj . ■ rVjight. 



PD 18 1 



An Answer to i^ie Questio7is^ 
WHY ARE YOU A FEDERALIST > 

AMD 

WHY SHALL YOU VOTE IfOR GOV. STRONG ? 



1005. 



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CjA'^ 



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^f? 



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JFhy are you a Federalist ? 



1 AM aFederalift — Beaiufcthemen, thus call- 
ed, have been, under God, the means of great bleflings 
to this country. 

Firft. By the Federal Conllitution, which tlicy 
planned. 

Second. By the meafures, v/hich they adopted, 
while the national s:overn.mcnt was in their hands, 
and under their controul. 

I lliall touch on each of thefe particulars, feparately, 
and I confidently appeal to the recollection of my fel- 
low countrymen, for the truth of the facts I fliall ftate, 
and to their good fenfe, for the accuracy of the con- 
clulions, I lliall draw. 

Firft. The Federal Conftitution was alnioft wholly 
the work of the men, called Federalifts, and was alfo 
oppofed, almoft to a man, by thofe, who, now a days, 
call themfelves Republicans. This facl is fo familiar 
to the whole people of the United States, that a for- 
mal proof feems unneceffary. Left, however, the 
memory of .any one fiiould happen to be dull, I will 
make a fliort lift of individuals. The men, who, in 
1788, and in the years next fucceeding, took the lead, 
in adopting and organizing the Federal Conftitution, 
and the national authorities, were Wajhingtoji, Adajns, 
yay, Hainilton, Pickering, Wo/cof, King, Pinckney, Sumner, 
Dana, Knox, Lincoln, Ellfworth — Strong. Thefe, and 
their aflbciates lirft received, from their diftinguiflicd 
iirmnefs, in recommending thi^ Conftitution and in 
cauftng it to be executed, according to its true fpirit, 
the name of Federalifts. All of thefe, v/ho are yet 
living are Federalifts ftill ; and all the others],'remained 
fuch until their deaths. On the other hand, among 
-thofe, who excited an open and viiilent oppofttiou to 



4 

the adoption of that conftitution, and were principally 
inftriimental, in making the people difgufted with it, 
;ind in difafFccling them to the adminiftrations of 
Wafhington and Adams, were Thomas Jefferfon^ now 
Prefidcnty George Clinton, Jiow Vice Prefident, Elbridge 
Gerry, Albert Gallatin, Col, Vanium, WilHa?n Heath, 
Thonipfon J. Ski7iner, Henry Dearborn, Charles "Jar vis, 
Benjamin Aiijiin, jun. and — yamcs Sullivan. 

Thefe remain either leaders, or tools, of the party 
calling itfelf Republican ; and nowfliare the honours 
of a government, againft which they avowed former- 
ly, a moil deadly hatred ; exercifing powci^ri and tak- 
ing the profit of places, once the objects of their loud- 
eil execrations. 

Here then are two claffes of men. The one adopt- 
ed a fyftem, arranged it, fet it a going, rifqued their 
reputations on its fuccefs, and through various unex- 
pecled trials, in tim.es of fmgular danger, effected their 
objecl and raifed their country from diftraclion, dif- 
union, fear at home and contempt abroad, to a high 
pitch of calmnefs, concord, confidence and refpeft, 
both in our own and in: foreign nations. The oth- 
er Hood by, objected to the plan and embarraffed 
the execution ; without propofmg any fubftitute, they 
fell to abuhng thofe,.who were active in recommend- 
ing the new government to the people, called them 
iiriftocrats, monarchifts, tories and whatever elfe ma- 
lignity, whetted by ambition, could fuggeft. Now 
which of thefe defcriptions of people, I alk, can a wife 
man fupport ; which ought a good man to honour ? 
The former are Federalifts, The latter thofe, who 
pjlTcall themfelves, Republicans. 

Every one recolle<5ts the diftreffes and dangers, 
which preceeded the adoption of the Federal Confti- 
tution j — aiid every one knows how foon the fky 
cleared up, and how happinefs and profperity poured 
in upon us, after that period. Now which of the 
|nen, who at prefent call themfelyes Republicans, put 



forth a finger, to help Its eftabllfliment ?- — which of 
them did not thwart its friends and take all occaiions 
to mifreprefent their intentions and mjke their mo- 
tives fui'pected, by the people ? What abundance of 
ills did they not prophcfy would refult, from the a- 
doption of that inflrument ; — flavery, wretchednefs, 
opprefiion, monarchy, ariftocracy ; thefe and a thou- 
fand other terrible monfters, they faid were concealed 
under it. Nor was this all, fome of them by their in- 
flammatory writings and harangues had, a little before 
the adoption of that inftrument, well nigh involved 
this flate in a civil war ; and others of them, foon af- 
ter its eftablifhment, by like arts, raifcdin the Weftern 
country a formidable infurrection. I appeal to the 
recolleGcion of my countrymen, that they, mIio oppof- 
ed the adoption of the Conilitution, that they, who 
oppoled, uniformly, all thofe wife and happy meafures, 
which diftinguiflied the adminillrations of Wafhing- 
ton and Adams, were, almofl without exception, the 
very men, who now occupy the oilices and lili the fta- 
tions of the national government. Thefe very men, 
who now ihamclefsly place the name of \¥af[iington 
by the fide of theirs, v^^ere the bittereft enemies and 
open calumniators of the whole courfe of his preilden- 
tial meafures. And what adds to the bafen«''> of this 
conducl is, that they do this, to diicredit, under the 
aliumed authority of his name, the men, who v,\erc 
his conilant fupporters and advocates, to whom he 
gave every public mark of his efteem and confidence. 

The above facts are undeniable. Great bleliings 
have then refulted from the Federal Conftitution, 
notwithftanding the predictions of thefe falfe proph- 
ets ; who had too frequent opportunities, and who 
neglected none, to caufe a fulfillment of their melan- 
chclv forcbodinsrs. 

Here, therefore, is my firft rcafon for being a Fed- 
eralift. I am grateful to the men, who gave us tlie 
Federal Conftitution. I fee that all they promifcd 
thqy have performed, and more than they promilcd. 



They told us, it would flrengthen the bands of union 
uniong the States. It has done it. — That it would caulc 
an uniform fyttem of juftice and uniform principles oF 
decifion to prevail. It has, in a good meafure, done 
it. — That it would give us concord at home and ref- 
peftabihty abroad. It has done both. — That it would 
make commerce flourilh, our merchants wealthy, and 
place our mechanics, farmers and labourers in inde- 
pendent, eafy and thriving circumftances. All thefe 
great ends have been effeded. I'he federal Conftitu- 
tion found this people diilreft, diftrufting one anoth- 
er and diilrufted abroad. It reftoied confidence and 
credit, made cafli circulate, and raifed this country 
from the depths of defpondence and danger, into as 
high a llate of profperity and fafety, as any country, 
in the fame period, ever attaiijed. Now one fet of 
men advocated, another fet of men oppcfed, the 
whole, and every part of that conftitution and the 
fyftem of meafures adopted under it. Is it not fair 
and honorable, then, to judge men " by their fruits r'* 
Can any man believe, that all thefe great things would 
have refuked to the American nation, if the federal 
Conftitution had not been adopted, and faithfully ex- 
ecuted, according to its principles, in its outfet ? Did 
any of thc^- antifederalifts, thefe felf-ftyled Republi- 
cans, ever propofe any fubftitute for that conftitution ? 
Finding fault v/ith the fyftem, as they did, with fo 
much violence and clamour, did they fuggeft any oth- 
er, or better ? Nothing of all this is pretended. They 
devifed nothing worthy of the acceptance of the peo- 
ple. They contented theliifelvcs folely with magnify- 
ing errors, mifreprefenting facls, and taking every oc- 
fion to render odious,with the people,the friends of the 
federal adminiftrattons and conftitution . Becaufe then 
the federal conftitution has been the inftrument of fo 
much good to us. Becaufe the fedcralifts drd this great 
thing for this people, they have had, and ftill have, my 
confidence, ilt is my rule to truft thofe, who perform, 
rather than thofe, who only promife, to confiuein thole, 



Tv^hodcvlfe wife means, and feek good ends, ratlief 
than thofc, who only clamour about rights and priv- 
ileges of the people, and ftudy to decry luch, as 
lay plans, and put them into execution, to render thofe 
rights and privileges fafc and permanent. 

For this reafon, I am a Federaliil — for this, I glory 
in the title, inafmuch as it is, in my opinion, only a- 
iiother name for the moft adive and enlightened friends 
of my country. 

But 2(1. I amafedcralift, bccaufe,duringthe admin- 
iflration of that party, they adopted wife meafures, 
and purfued them faithfully. 

They did not content themfelves with backbiting 
their political enemies, with harranguing, in taveriTo, 
and ki corners of ftreets, about the rights and 
privileges of the people. But they took meafures to fe- 
cure thofe rights, and to place the nation, on the only 
folid ground, that which -has, for its balis, honor, faith 
and punftuaiity to engagements. 

ift. They eftablifhed public credit — -that is, they 
fettled the old accounts of the war, and provided 
funds through the gradual operation of which the 
debts then created were to be cancelled. 

This meafure occalioned a great outcry on the part 
of our exclufive patriots, thefe men, who now ftyle 
themfelves Republicans. Mr. Madifon, Mr. Jefferfon, 
and the whole Virginia antifederal phalanx, took the 
lead in this oppolition. The reafon was obvious ; 
the people of Virginia are not famous for their refpect 
to the rights of creditors, and in this cafe to make a 
fettlement, which would cccalion Virginia to be juft 
was neither conformable to her old habits or prefent 
interefts. Befides very little of the public debt was 
owned in Virginia, the people of the New-England 
flates vv'ere the principal holders of fecurities. A 
meafure, which would make Virginia contribute to qu- 
rich New-England, was as little conformable to het 
political jcalou Ties as it was to her habits and interefts. 
The difficulty, with thefe patriots, was how to defeat 
the provifion for the debts, without committing them. 



fclves by a gfofs avowal of their difpufition to c^eat 
the national creditors, flate and individual. Tneir 
ingenuity loon fupplied an expedient. They raifed the 
cry of difcrimination. The United States had made 
the fccurities for their debts negotiable. Many of 
them had been fold. The bona fide purchafers had 
taken them and advanced to their former poffelTors, the 
market worth. This they did under the lanclion of 
the public faith, facredly plighted for their redemption 
in full. But, our Republicans, led on by the Virgin- 
ians, were for difcriminating — that is, they \vcre for 
making the United States break faith with their 
creditors, in order that they might comipenfate the in- 
jury, their own neglect to provide payment, had done 
to the firil holders of their paper. Thus, cloak- 
ing injuftice under the broad mantle of humanity, 
J:hey advocated public robbery, to provide a fource for 
public generofity. The true fecret of this fcheme, fo 
plainly contrary to every diftate of moral honefty, was 
firlf its imprafticability and next the temporary popu- 
larity, attached to it. The known rule, a fulfil- 
ment of the plain terms of the contrad, once broken, 
every thing would have been at loofe. The difficulties, 
conf@quent upon the principle of difcrimination could 
never have been fettled. Much, which Vv^ouid have 
been referved out of the claims of the creditors, would 
have been clear gain to the United States ; inafmucli 
as very many of the foldiers were dead, and from va- 
rious caufes, many would not make claim. Thus this 
fcheme of difcrimination, fo vaunted by our Repub- 
licans was really only a plan for defrauding credit- 
ors, under pretence of providing for the revolutionary 
army. But this was not the fole motive. The cry 
of indemnity to the poor foldiers was an appeal to the 
hearts of the people. It was a great fund of popularity, 
which was an article much in demand with thofe, who 
were advocating an open breach of faith, and who 
had entered the lifts a^ainft Wafliino^ton the real friend 
©f tlie foldiery. He, with that woij^derful con- 



fifiency of character, which diftinguifhcd him, was 
not lefs ardent in favor of the claims of the creditors, 
than of his military comrades. He thought that 
the former ought not to be robbed, nor the latter for- 
gotten ; that the honor of the United States was as 
deeply interefted in obferving its faith, as in following 
the dictates of its feelings. 

But the Federal adminiftratlon not only provided 
for the national, it alfo — 2d. AlTumed the flate debts. 
That this meafure fhould have been unpopular in 
fome of the fouthern States, where the balances 
were againft them, mi.^ht have been expeded. But that 
it fhould have ever been a fuccefsful caufe of complaint 
in Mailachufetts, is, indeed, extraordinary. This 
was a great creditor flate. Her noble and difinterefted 
exertions, in the caufe of the revolution, had accumu- 
lated upon her an immenfe debt. The taxes, which it 
occafioned, were truly a fource of mifery and diftrefs 
to this people. They were the caufe of a burden, 
which, more than any thing elfe, occafioned the infur- 
reclion of 1787. We all recollect what an immenfe 
proportion of the profits of our farms was confumed 
in difcharging the taxes of that period. Yet flrange 
to tell, it has been a ferious caufe of complaint againft 
the Federalifts that by affuming the flate debts they 
relieved xVIafTachufetts, and placed the burden of the 
war, where it ought to be borne, on the United States. 
By this aflumption our native ftate was placed at eafe, 
the people refcued from the diflrefles of taxation, for 
the arrearages of the war, and a large demand acknow- 
ledged, upwards of one million of dollars, as due 
from the United States to it ; for which wc have 
ever fmce been receiving intereft. If this be a crime, 
here, in MafTachufetts, the federalifts plead guilty to it. 
Without their firmnefs and diligence, it would never 
have been effected. Let their enemies fliow, if they 
can, that any of their virtues have been as profitable to 
the people as this pretended offence of the federalifts. 
But, the federal adminiflration, not only provided 
B 



IG 

for the national, and affumed the ftatc debts, it alf# 
— ^d. Maintained our neutrality. 

It ought ever to be remembered, that the times, 
when the national government was tinder the direc- 

o 

tion of jfederaliils, were the moil eventful and tempef- 
tuous, that the world, perhaps, ever witneffed. One of 
the greatefl nations of the earth then paffed through 
a moil bloody and difailrous revolution. In the courfe 
of it, the mod unprincipled men fuccellively attained- 
the fupreme power and agitated Europe, by their in- 
trigues, their arms and ambition. 

I'he nations, with which America has naturally the 
flroMgeft connections, France and Great Britain, were 
engaged in the mofl virulent war, in which each party 
contefled not for territory, but for exiftence, as an in- 
dependent power. 

i o both we were united by treaties. The former 
had attached herfelf to us by the part fhe took in ef- 
fecting our revolution ; for which Americans, without 
'fiftino: her motives were v/illin^ to vield her eratitude, 
and aifo whatever aid could be extended, confident 
with their fafety and independence. On the other 
hand, Great-Britain v/as the nation, from which we 
had defcencicd, from whom we had imbibed our 
principles and our habits; with whom alfo our commer- 
cial tranfaclions v/ere the moil excenfive ; who, at the 
fame time, that the mutual animolity, which our rev- 
olutionary war had excited, was not yet extinguifli- 
ed, had, by the greatnefs of her naval power and the 
unprotecled Hate of our commerce, the fairefl oppor- 
tunity to inflicl upon us the 'deepeft wounds, and the 
Icaft to apprehend from our hoftiiity. In this date of 
things, the emiflaries of France were unremitted in 
'..heir exertions to make our government compromit 
its neutralitv and lofe all the advantao;es, which had 
rcfiilted, and which promifed to refuit, from its pre- 
fervation. The names of Fauchet, Adet, Genet arc 
familiar ''o our memories — as alfo are the means they 
tifed t© draw us into the war j how they joined 



11 

ihemfelvcs to the men, who now ftyle themfelvcs Re- 
puWicans, calumniated our government, charged our 
lirft patriots with being in the pay of Great-Britain, 
excited every where the ancient animolity to this na- 
tion and gratitude to her rival, not fufFering even the 
facr jd reputation of Walhington to efcape unaffailed, 
becaiiie he placed himfelf in oppolltion to their nefari- 
ous deligns. Notwithllanding the regularity and un- 
remitted nature of thefe attempts, the national gov- 
ernment, then in the hands of Federalifts, never loft 
light of its refolution to have a {ingle eye on the 
true interefls of the nation, and on that, on which 
thefe alone depended, its neutrality. For this object, 
they adopted all thofe meafures, which have been the 
themes of the abufe of thefe Republicans — the BritiTa 
treaty — the {landing army — the direct tax, and the fe- 
dition acl;. Thefe meafures, fo decried arid mifrepre- 
fented, were, under God, the means of preferving 
for us that great blciling peace, and of preventing us 
from a connexion with France, which would have, 
probably, terminated in as much wretchednefs for us, 
as it has for all thofe nations, who have fallen under 
its influence, in Europe. 

Each of thofe meafures deferves a fhort examina- 
tion, as they are the points of attack, on which thefe re- 
publicans are the loudest and most virulent. 

As to the Britilh Treaty, we all recollect how the 
effect of that inftrument v/as mifreprefented. — It was 
faid to be a reafonable caufe of war on the part of 
France — to reduce us again to the {late of Colonies to 
England ; nothing, that malignity could invent, or 
that weaknefs could fugge{l, was omitted to alarm our 
fears, or awaken our prejudices. The time limited for 
the commercial part of this treaty has pafled. We have 
experienced its eftecl and moil willingly do I appeal 
to my hone{l and intelligent countrymen, whether 
this inflrument has not been beneficial to our country. 
The caufe of that hoilility to the Britiffi 'I'reaty is not 
to be found in the termii of that inflrument, but in 



12 

the difguft, which Frenchmen and French partizans 
experienced, at the obftacle, which that treaty inter- 
poied to their darhng project of involving America, 
in the war then prevalent. This was one caufe. An- 
other may be traced to that interefted animofity, 
which Virginia has always borne to the Engliih na- 
tion. " It is a firmly eftablifhed opinion of men verf- 
ed in the hiftory ot our revolution, that the ivhiggifin 
of V/rginia was chiefly owing to the debts of the 
planters." Certain it is, that the fourth article 
of the treaty of ' peace, which ftipulated, that 
there fbould be no obftacle to the recovery of all bona 
fide debts, was received with the utrnoft difguft, in 
Virginia. It was the fource of that inveterate refent- 
ineiit, which the prevailing party, in that ftate, always 
bore Mr. Adams, It is alio certain that this ftate was 
one of the firft, who refufed to open her courts to the 
Englifti creditors, under that treaty ; affording her, by 
this act, an apology for that breach of it, on her part, 
which was the caufe of fuch continued controverfy, 
until it was adjufted by Mr. Jay's obnoxious treaty. 
It was a iufhcient caufe for the enmity of Virginia 
to both thofe treaties, that each contained a ftipulation 
that her cidzcns fhould be obhged to pay debts, con- 
trafted anterior to the war. In her eftimation, Ameri- 
can Independence was but a poor purchafe, if the bur- 
den of Britifli debts was not removed. To planters, 
the hcavieft part of the Britifh yoke was that, which the 
obligations of juftice impoIedV The whole amount of 
the claims, exhibited by the Britifh government againft 
the American, for debts due from our citizens to their 
fubjeBs, anterior to the war, was Eighteen Millions of 
Dollars, of which . EIGHT millions,' five hundred 
THOUSAND, were owed from the fingle State of Virginia, 
Hence her uniform difcontcnt at the treaty of peace. 
Hence her animofity to a federal Judiciary, which, guid- 
ed by other laws than her ftatutes, would compel her 
citizens to be juft. Hence alfo, that flame, which her 
emiliaries excited through the continent, at the renewal 



13 

of the fame equitable ftipulations, in the treaty o^ Mn 
jay. A fail has lately occurred, which places i^cr ino- 
tives, and thole of her partizans, in a Urong liL,ht. The 
national government, while yet in the hands of ihti 
Federalilts, perceiving that Virginia would never ceafs 
to diflarb the meafures of the Union, fo long a-?, Hy its 
treaties, thefe debts were made recoverable, thought it 
a meafure of found policy to attempt to remove thefe 
Britifli claim^, by negociating for a difcharge upon the 
payment of an equivalent. Under their inilr'uctions, 
Mr. King made a convention, by which the United 
States ftipulated to pay the Britifli government near 
three millions of dollars, iii difcharge of thofe claims. 
This convention was not concluded until Mr. Jeffcrfon 
Game into power. He ratificdit^ — and undoubtedly it 
was a wife meafure. But, is it not wonderful, to obferve 
the filence of our virtuous Republicans, who are io 
hawk-eyed to whatever touches the pockets of the peo- 
ple ? Is it not ftrange that they have not condefccnded 
to trumpet forth the faft, that the fum\ Jtipidatcd by this 
convention, was paid for Virginia delinquciicy ?—lhat one 
half of the whole claim, which that convention quieted, was 
owed in that fingle State ? — that the money of New- Eng- 
land, in fact, the four ce of national revenue, is gone to dif- 
charge the debts and wipe azvay the frauds of the planters 
of the ancient dominion ? 

The next objett of cenfure is the provifional, or as it 
was opprobioully called, the ftandmg army. This meaf- 
ure was the refult of a fingular necelTity, induced by the 
hoftile threats and unprincipled conduQ; of France. In 
juitification of this, it is enough, at this day, to fay, that 
George Walhington was appointed to the command of 
that army — that he accepted of it — that he bore tefti- 
mony, both to the neceffity and the wifdom of that 
meafure, and that too in terms the moll unequivocal.* 

* On the 13th July, 1798, that great man, wrote a letter to John 
Adams, then Prelident of the United States, accepting the coiiunand 
pf that armv, and containing theie memorable expreHious, "• iii; li e v^e 
syiE, Sir, no one can more cordially ArrRQVF, ov the 
wise and prudent ' measures of y o x; !< a dm i n't s t k at 1 o n, 
They ought to inspire universal respect. " 



14 

The fame circumftances, which made the raifing aa 
army necefl'ary, made aUb a provifion for it indifpenfa- 
ble. For this purpofe a dirett tax was reforted to, be- 
caufe in cafe of an iiuropean war, which was threatened, 
the ordinary refources of commercial revenue could not 
be depended upon. Both thefe nieafures, rendered fo 
obnoxious by the artifices of the political enemies of 
thofe adminiftrations, were declared to be temporary, 
and were in fa6l repealed, by the federaliits, as foon as 
the necellity, which created them, had ceafed. Yet have 
both furnifhed and ilill furnifh materials for artful de- 
claimers, who falfly reprefent them as permanent planSj, 
devifed with the malignant dehgn of enfiaving the 
country. 

It ought alfo to be remembered, that the direft tax 
was always ureed as a favourite meafure, bv the anti-fed- 
eralills. It was reluftantly reforted to by the federal- 
iils ; yet, no fooner had they commenced the fyflem 
than they were expofed to the mod virulent deciama- 
tion and abufe for that very meafute which thefe anti- 
federaliils had frequently advifed, and that too with 
warm expreffions of approbation. 

Farther — thefe obnoxious meafures, the ftanding ar- 
my and dire6l tax, were, in fact, the means of preferving 
the country from the expenfes and diftreffes of aftual 
war. The fpirit'and energy fhown both by the govern- 
ment and people alarmed the French Rulers, and 
produced thofe overtures, which terminated in the ad- 
juflment of our differences. 

The lallt meafure of the Federal adminiftifation,which 
has been the fruitful fource of abufe and mif- 
repreffcntation, was the Sedition Aft. This has been 
decried as an engine of tyranny and as a deadly blow, 
aimed at the liberties of the people ; when, in faB, it was 
an amelioration of the common law in favor of the peo- 
ple, and one of the molt honourable tributes any gov- 
ernments could pay to the independence of the prefs. 
By the common law, a libel is not the lefs fo for being 
true. By it a defendant could not give the truth in 



15 

evidence as it is no juftificatioH. In amelioration of 
this principle it was declared by the (edition atl, which 
created no new offence, that the truth fiould be given in 
evidence^ and jhould he a Jiifficient jujiif cation. During 
its operation, a man was retrained from pubiilhing noth- 
ing, except falHioods. The democrats, (ince they have 
been in power, have, exiiltingly, fuffered that law to 
expire. The rigors of the common Jaw arc therefore 
reiurnedj and now a man, at his peril, publiflies truth, not 
lefs than fallhoods. The conlequcnce has been as the 
Fedcralifts prcdided, the rigors of the common law 
have been enforced ; and that too on an inditiment for 
a libel on Mr. Jefferfon. In the itate of New York, 
Mr. Croffwell, being thus indided offered, to give the 
truth in evidence, but was denied the privilege by the. 
Court, upon the principle, that the Sedition law was 
repealed, and that they had no other rule for decifion 
than the common law, which declares, that " the greater 
the truth, the greater is the libel." And our Prefident 
has undoubted luck in that repeal ; for, perhaps, there 
cannot be greater libels invented than some truths told 
OF Mr. Jefferson ! ! ! 

But the federalifts, while in power, not only main- 
tained national faith, honour and independence, but — 

Third. They organized the adminiltration in all its 
parts ; and that too, fo perfetlly that, although their 
word enemies have been ,now four years, in polfeffion of 
power, they have found nothing in the general organiza- 
tion of their fyftem to alter, fcarcely any thing, which' 
"" they have even pretended to improve. This is a great 
honor to the Federal adminiftration. Except in thofe 
particulars, which they were obliged to deflroy, as a 
facrifice to their own party and by way of juftihcation 
for the clamour, they had raifed, all arc fuffered to re- 
main. Not even thofe i'alaries, againft which they lifted 
their voice as enormous and oppreffive, when adopted 
by Federalilts, have they, in a (ingle inltance, r^uccd, 
now they have fallen into the hands of the(<; patriots, 
.dilinterefled as they pretended to be ; on the contrary 



16 

thofe which exifted, when they came into power, remain^ 
and thuie which had expired, they have re-enatted. 

On all theie accounts, therefore, am I a Federalift. 
This party formed the conftitution, organized the ad- 
miniftration, preferved peace at home and refpeftability 
abroad, nnder circumflances the moft adverfe, in direct 
oppofition to the attempts of a powerful foreign nation, 
aided by, and co-operating with, a moft virulent domef* 
tic faction. They have gone from office, with pure hands, 
with reputations iinfuUied, notwithltandino their con- 
diici has been fearched with whatever keennefs, maligni- 
ty and part)- fp-irit could command. Among the moft 
conipicuous of them are HamiUon, Pickering, Wolcot, 
Stoddart. Each of thefe have held oflices of great pe- 
cuniary trnlL Each has retired to private life, in a litua- 
t'on, but one remove from poverty. Each has been 
obliged to refort for a livelihood to a profefhon. The 
irrft to tl.e bar — the fecond to his farm, and the two laft 
to commerce. 

All thefe fatls- denote not only high talents, but alfo 
fingular integrity — rare patriotifm, and contain the dif- 
tinguifhing traits of greatnefs and public virtue. For 
tpx'fe reafons I rejoice in ranking myfelf among their 
friends and followers ;amon[i the men called Federalifto. 



Why JJjall you vote for Governor Strong ? 
First — Becaafe he has been long in the chair, has ap- 
proved hi mfelf faithful to the true interests of the peo- 
ple ; and under his- administration great profperity has 
been attained by us. Thofe, who would induce us to 
turn out a tried magiftrate, an old fervant, ought to 
produce found reafons for it. Removal from oflice is 
the puniihment of bad rulers. A people, therefore, 
who mete this meafure to the good, destroy the in- 
ducements to virtuous conductjby withholding from it 
their countenance, and encoura2:e the vicious and am- 
bitious, by thus confounding the nature of revv-ard and 
making the fame event refuit to the wicked and to 
the vv'orthy. Now what reafons are given for this 



17 

change, which men, calling themfeJves republicans, re« 
commend. Do they lay any crime to his charge ? No. 
It has not been in the power of the most virulent par- 
ty fpirit, with all its malignity, to invent an offence. 
They do not pretend to imagine one. — What then ? 
Has he been guilty of an overlight, or any fmall fault, 
which, lefs than a crime yet indicates, indifcretion, or 
inattention to your intcrefts? Nothing of this has been 
fuggefted. On the contrary, it is a fubjecl of open 
cdmplaint, with his political enemies, that he is " arm- 
ed fo ftrong in honefty," that their attempts to calum- 
niate and decry him are vain and fruit lefs, not find- 
ing ground to reft upon. In a fervice of five years, 
they can find nothing to peck at ; nothing, which will 
bear the flimfy texture of a newfpaper llander. Is he 
then denied talents ? His worft enemies allow hina 
thefe. Ishedeftitute of moderation in his political te- 
nets ? On the contrary, moderation is one of his diftin- 
guifliing characleriftics. In vain have his adverfaries 
lifted his private character, or his public conduct ; they 
find but one fin at his dooi*. This is, indeed, in their efti- 
mation,a great one. It is the fin of — Federalifm. The 
fin of — having been the friend of Wafliington — his 
fupporter and advocate ; againft the very men, who 
now call themfelves Republicans, who w^ere once def- 
tinguifhed as Anti-federalifts, and who were, in 1795 
and 1796, not lefs violent in their clamours againft 
Wafliington, than they are, at this day, againft Strong. 
Let any man read over the preceding pages, in anfwer 
to the queftion, why are you a Federalift ? and if on 
this account Governor Strong is dif-entitled to the 
fupport of the true lovers of their country, let him 
' be ejected from the high office he holds. But the fe- 
cretof the animofity of his political adverfaries is not, 
in truth, fo much his ancient federalifm, as his prefcnt 
confiftency. If Strong could turn and twift after 
popularity ; if now the wind of favor blows from the 
Virginia ftiore, he could fpread his fail, and foro-etin? 
the interefts of New-England, give fuch a diredion tg 
C 



our flate as Mr. Jefferfon fancies, then all, in the eftima- 
tson of our exclufive patriots, would be well. This is in. 
fact his crime — this his. offence. That charming ver- 
fatility, which diilinguiflies Mr. Sullivan, his rival, is 
none of his. Like him, he cannot be federalift, or 
democrat, or jacobin, or republican, according to the 
ever varying breath of popular humour. Strong has 
always been the fame, firm, conliftent federal republi- 
can, and fiich will forever remain, whatever the mista- 
ken opinions of the moment may dictate ; whatever 
fate, the unthinking, the difcontented, and the ambi* 
tious, may, on this account, award him. It is not 
thus with Mr. SuUivan. His want of confiflency is 
proverbial. In 1788, half federalist, half anti-federal- 
ist, with fenfe enough not to offend either fide, with 
cunning enough not to commit himfelf on either- — 
In 1794, jacobin for a week, and as fuch joining their 
fociety; then erafmg his name from their records, and 
forfwearing their connexion. Always a weather-cock, 
in politics, turning with every current, and veering 
after the opinions of every man, with whom he hap- 
pened to fall in company. Aflc his fupporters if they 
confide in him. If honed, they will confefs their dif- 
truft, and plead necelTity in their excufe. He is the 
«inly man. they will fay, who can command a majority 
in the diflrid of Maine. This is his title. He alone 
can effect a revolution in the Commonwealth. This 
is his merit. For this reafon they forego their enmity. 
For this, many of his own party, who hold him in 
great contempt, not to fay deteftation, are dragged on, 
reludantly, to vote for him. Do you want, feUow-ci- 
tizens, any evidence of this fact? In the year 17973 
Sumner and Sullivan were the candidates for the Go- 
vernor's chair, and although every exertion was made 
to fecure his election, ^uliivan obtained, in the great 
town of Bofton, tweniyfeven 'uotes only. Again, itill 
more lately, on the 4th of July 1803, at a feaftin hon- 
or of that anniverfary, Charles Jarvis being Prefident, 
Ruffel Sturgis, Benjamin Auftin, jun. and Nathaniel 



19 

Fellows, thofe rare republicans, being Vice-Prefidents, 
the followino; toaft was drank, amidft reiterated ap- 
plaufes. '' The Orator of the day — the degenerate plant 
of a STRANGE VINE." Now mark, my fcllow-cirizens, 
William Sullivan was the orator of the day, and this 
ftrange vine is none other than — the Hon. James Sul« 
livan. And truly very appropriate was this type of the 
would be Governor of Maffachufetts. For he has lit- 
tle root in principle, and is very wide fpread on the 
furface, fhooting his twilling and afpiring top, on eve- 
ry fide , to find props for his ambition and holds, by 
which he may climb. Charges of a dark, and doubt- 
ful nature reft on his charadter. And thefe are not 
confined either in their origin, or credit, to his politi- 
cal adverfiiries. Surely, in a virtuous community, fuch 
a man ought forever to be excluded from all chance of 
fuccefs, when he is oppofed to fuch a rival as Strong. 
One on whofe character calumny has not fixed a ftain; 
— in which party fpirit does not pretend to find a flaw. 
Againft whom malignity has nothing to object, except 
that as the friend ot Wafliington, he cannot give pub- 
lic teftimony in favor v)f our national adminiftration ; 
conducted by a man the known perfonal enemy of 
the fainted hero of Mount Vernon, and the principles 
of which are in direct oppofition to all thofe men and 
meafures, to v/hich that great man lent his name and 
his fupport. 

On this account therefore, that Strong has already 
conducted the government of this country, fafely and 
profperoufly, I feel it my duty to give him my vote. 
Can wc expect to enjoy, under the adminiftration of 
any man, more than we have already, and do now en- 
joy under Governor Strong ? Is it pofiible that wc can 
be more fafe, or more happy, or more free ? Is it not 
very foolifti and abfurd for a people, who have ob- 
tained a good and faithful fervant to change him, and 
that too, without a fault lain to his charf;e .? But I 
liold it alfo, in a certain fenfe wicked and immoral. 



20 

He, who at the public call foregoes his private eafe, 
and fubmits to the labours and obloquy of office, and 
executes his high truft, with honour and fidelity, has; 
in my opinion, a fort of right to that countenance; 
which re-election exprefles. Otherwife, as the people 
have no other way of expreffing their approbation of 
good and their difapprobation of bad magiftrates, they 
confound the one with the other ; to the utter difcour- 
agement of the former, and to the no lefs comfort and 
confolation of the latter. And I take it to be the or- 
dinary way, in the moral government of providence, 
to punidi a people for their abufe of virtuous rulersj 
by turning them over to be fcourged, by thofe, who 
are vicious ; and who are burning with an unholy am- 
bition and thirft for power. 

Another reafon, that I have, in favour of Governor 
Strong, is, that having had frequent occafions of mark- 
ing his condudjin private life, iie is,in my opinion, the 
trueft fample of real republicanifm, that I have ever 
known, or could imagine. I have often feen and con- 
verfed with him ; and I only wifh, my fellow citizens, 
that every one of you had been favored with the like 
opportunity. I would willi no better aifurance of the 
cordial and unanimous fupport of every good and 
virtuous citizen. I know not how to exprefs myfelf, 
on this fubjedt, but if a humble, modeft, intelligent 
deportment, abounding with unoftentatious, good-^ 
nefs, kind manners, and a countenance, and conduct 
the moft benevolent and attractive— if to thefe the ad* 
dition in private life, of exemplary piety, and of the 
exeicife of all the focial and domeftic virtues, intitle 
a man to confidence and refped, — Governor Strong 
eannot but be re-ele<5ted. 

I know it has been fud,t!iat Gov. Strong is too fru- 
gal. That he rides down to Bofton, in the ftage, or in a 
fuike)-. That he does nor dine the members of the 
General Court, in Bofton, as often as Gov. Hancock did. 
And we are told that things will be mightily altered whe^ 
Judge Sullivan is in the chairj who lives in a great houfey 



21 

in the capital, and has already very frequently, and hy 
ivay of getting his hand in, entertained, -vay fplendidly, 
all the leading republicans of both branches ; and mpre* 
over, in order to (how his good difpo(itions,and to exem- 
plify, when he gets into the chdar.fcund rtpullican priw 
ciples, has, fince the lall eleftion, got a fuperb equipage, 
and put his fervants into new liveries, all in green, trim- 
Med, if I am not mifmfonned, with lace. Now I beg 
it may be underftood that I do' not mention this, by 
way of cbje6iion to Mr. Sullivan, becaufe, I believe, 
this vain, luxurious foppery makes a man, for governor, 
neither better, nor worfe ; but only becaufe, I confefs I 
do not fee the confillency of thefe democratic gentle- 
men, nor why, on thefe accounts, Judge Sullivan is a 
whit more a republican than the modeft, unalTumins', 
unoftentatious, Strong. " ' " 

I know that I may be in an error ; for I have obferv- 
ed that the fplrit of rcpublicanifm is often the mod vio- 
lent in men, who, in private life, are vain, proud, often- 
tatiouis ; tyrannical to inferiors and haughiy to equals. 
Such men, always believing, that having eilablifhed a 
fund of reputation, by their profeflions of regard for 
the people in general, they are at liberty, without dan- 
ger to their credit, of being as abufive, as they v^^ill, to 
every man of that people, individually. With refpetl 
to Gov. Strong's penurioufnefsjall,! fay. is,that — it isnot 
true. — -But, if it were, it is a flrange charge brought by a 
party, with whom, if wb believe them, economy is the 
firfl and lall of their political commandments ; — on. 
which hang all their law and prophets. But there is 
another reaCon, in my mind, which amply juftifies Gov. 
Strong, although it may not, in the eyes of others ; 
which is, that he has a number of children and a mod- 
erate fortune ; there being, I am well afTured, 
many farmers in this country, whofc eftates arc 
worth, by much, more than all Gov. Strong poffeir^ 
es. Now I have no idea that the people expeft a gov- 
ernour, not only to devote to them his whole talents and 
time, but to ruin himfclf and children into the bargain ; 



22 
particularly when the expenfes required are to no better 
purpofe than feafling the members of the General Court 
and making republicans ride, aping the vanities of roy- 
alty. 

Such are my reafons my fellow citizens for prefer- 
ring Strong to Sullivan. They are public reafons, 
grounded on no perfonal partialities, on no private an- 
imofities. I cheerfully fubmit to your confideration 
and judgment, their truth and foundnefs. The crifis 
now depending is great, and the confequences of a re- 
volution in this powerful (late are incalculable. May 
you be guided in your choice, in fuch a manner, as that 
you may have no reafon of lelf condemnation, in cafe 
yournegleft, or your verfatility, fhould, by encouraging 
the advocates of change, introduce a ftate of things, to- 
tally repugnant to that profperous courfe, in which our 
affairs have been hitherto conducted. The profpetis of 
fuccefs are not fo bright on the fide of our pretended 
Republicans as they boaft. If Federaliits are true to 
themfelves, and their caufe, there can be no doubt that 
the triumphs of principle will be repeated. Let them 
onlylayalide every weightandthat finof indoIence,which 
foeahly belets them, and they will again feat in the chief 
offices of flate, Strong and his affociates — the friends of 
Wafhington — the friends of Adams, and the authors and 
the fupporters of all thofe meafiires, which gave the 
United States, a refpedable name and an exalted ranl^ 
among the nations of the earth. 



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